Roaring Through the Ages: Sweetwater’s Antique Hero Turns 100 by Kacy Weigle

This 4th of July, the heart of Sweetwater won’t just beat with patriotic pride, it will roar with the sound of a century-old engine that once answered the town’s earliest fire alarms. Sweetwater’s beloved antique firetruck, a 1924 American LaFrance, is celebrating its 100th birthday and we hope you’ll make plans to join us. Why celebrate a fire truck? Well, it’s a hometown hero and kind of a big deal. Allow me to set the scene-

It's February of 1924. The town is smoldering despite the winter chill with over fifty thousand dollars worth of fire damage sweeping through the downtown area, a staggering amount of money then and now! It became clear that the volunteer fire department needed a makeover. The Sweetwater City Commission voted to modernize the fire department and decided to purchase a motor driven firetruck to be built from scratch and arrive fully equipped. The $6,250 price tag wasn’t taken lightly, but it came with a benefit that made it worthwhile: the city’s insurance rating would improve, saving money in the long run. Our beloved fire truck catapulted our little town into big status in the fire fighting industry. Sweetwater became the 4th best fire department, just behind Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga! It put us on the map and was useful in helping out our fire-fighting neighbors in Loudon and McMinn counties over the following two decades.

In 1942, our old truck was replaced and retired. Since those glory days, it carried Santa Claus each Christmas, delighted children on joyrides, transported local politicians and some homecoming queens!

Come see the old firetruck and celebrate its one hundred years by joining us for a party and birthday cake at 6 o’clock during the July 4 Parade. The first 500 kids to show up will receive a goody bag!

Happy 100 Years to the fire truck that made its mark in Sweetwater, TN, securing a place in history and our hearts.