Battalion 16 to Englewood

07/04/2026

With temperatures quickly heading to the 100-degree mark, Lisa and I took the buggy to participate in the Village of Pinehurst Independence Day parade. It was very well attended with thousands along the parade route as well as before and after the route.

As is becoming usual, the car was a real 'hit' with kids going nuts when I gave the siren a quick hit.

The car ran great and the light package worked like a charm. We were delighted that our wonderful mayor, Patrick Pizzella, broke away from his position at the reviewing stand and came over to the buggy to say hello! (It must have been to say hello to lovely Lisa!)

07/04/2026

Nice improvements to the old miracle tool.

06/14/2026

Having written what I wrote a few minutes ago, I cannot forget to include two other special ladies for whom the same accolades can be said: Amy Gavin (L) and Lisa Kirchner (R). Patrick and I have truly been blessed!

06/14/2026

If ever there was evidence to the truth to the old expression, "behind every good man is a great woman", here it is with Carter's wonderful bride, Mary Jo. To her, I say thank you for your many years of support and sacrifice for Carter's work to make the South Carolina fire service the jewel that it is today! God bless!

06/14/2026

A number of folks were duly impressed that the car displayed real, authentic municipal 1970 license plates for the same year as the car.
There were also some questions about the red and green light configuration and the black roofs that have been the branding hallmarks of the Chicago Fire Department for many years. The red and green, port and starboard lights started with Fire Commissioner Albert E. Goodrich during his tenure between 1927 and 1931. The red-green lights tradition on apparatus and firehouses are rooted in commissioner Goodrich's family who owned a steamship company on the Great Lakes, hence a nautical meaning. The black roofs have a much different origin and are from when black tar pitch was used to waterproof the chief's buggy canvas roof.

06/14/2026

Here I am making a new friend for life with Carter Jones, the South Carolina fire service's greatest and most admired ambassador.

06/14/2026

As a member of Rekindle Society, the Carolinas Chapter of SPAAMFAA, I sincerely thank our president, Patrick Gavin, for his invitation to bring my replica Chicago Fire Department 'buggy' to the chapter's display at the South Carolina Fire-Rescue Conference.
From the minute the exhibit hall opened, we had non-stop interest in the buggy that included many kind comments about the quality and accuracy of the replica.
The back story about this project is that I did numerous "ride alongs" with the Chicago Fire Department's Southside companies and chiefs during the 'war years' of the late 60s and early 70s while I was a student member of the University of Notre Dame Fire Department.

06/08/2026

06/05/2026

We are happy to announce that the replica 16th Battalion buggy will be on display in the convention hall at the South Carolina Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach from Thursday, June 11th through noon on Saturday, June 13th. Come see us!