Photograph by Devyn Glista
How does a 100-year-old Norwood fire truck make its way to a barn in Indiana, then to Maine, Connecticut, and Texas, then back again to its original Montgomery Road firehouse? A network of memorabilia collectors and restorers, plus locals on the ground with a commitment to history. “It has lots of patina on it,” says Norwood Fire Department Lieutenant Brodie Cianciolo. “But it runs, it pumps, it does everything it’s supposed to do.”
When Cianciolo and company took delivery of the newly restored truck (via donation), they were inspired to finish the job and restore the firehouse, too. Firehouse No. 2, which the truck called home for about 20 years, was built in 1913. It closed in the 1980s, sat vacant for some 30 years, and was used for storage, which included the newly re-acquired truck. That’s when it clicked that the building needed its own overhaul. They worked out a deal with the city of Norwood to restore the building with private donations. Now, the public can call to schedule a tour and see the truck parked inside, right where it belongs.
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