Restoration of old Las Cruces fire truck could soon begin

By Steve Ramirez

sramirez@lcsun-news.com @SteveRamirez6 on Twitter

"Lizzy," a 1930 American LaFrance fire truck seen here at its longtime home in Klein Park, is going to get a 35,000 makeover eventually. The vehicle is believed to be the city's first pumper fire engine. (Sun-News file photo)

LAS CRUCES >> "Lizzy," a mainstay at Klein Park for decades, is going to get a $35,000 makeover. When that happens is still being worked out.

"Lizzy" is a 1930 American LaFrance fire truck believed to be the city's first pumper fire engine.

"Nobody really knows where the truck got her name," said city councilor Miguel Silva, whose council district includes Klein Park, where the retired engine was parked for more than 40 years. "The people who went to the park were probably the ones to give the truck her name."

For a little more than a year city officials have been trying to decide what to do with the relic. Some decisions have been made ast to what becomes of the old gal. Although the vintage fire truck is considered an icon of the Mesquite Historic District because it was in Klein Park for so long it won't be going back there. Instead, Lizzy will be cosmetically restored and will be put on display at the city's main fire station, 200 W. Picacho Ave.

"It's kind of sad it won't be coming 'home,'" said Sally Triste, whose family has lived near Klein Park for more than 60 years. "I played on the truck, with my cousins and friends, when I was a little girl. We loved that truck. ...Somehow, the neighborhood just hasn't been the same since it left."

But Silva said the decision to relocate the old fire truck was an easy one to make.

"There could be some serious liability issues for the city," Silva said. "Our risk management director told us when the truck was removed (from Klein Park) there were a lot of spider webs underneath the truck. It kind of surprised us; nobody thought about looking under the truck and it got us thinking about a long list of liabilities that could be possible if Lizzy was moved back to the park."

Link:
Restoration of old Las Cruces fire truck could soon begin