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The pumper will be driven from the area of Ingraham Terrace to Lake Drive East to Osborne Terrace to the firehouse at 5 Lake Drive West.
"We are asking the public to line the arrival route and cheer on the return of this prized antique," President Mark McGrath said.
There is no public parking at the firehouse. However, McGrath said parking will be available:
- Along Osborne Terrace at the Kilroy Ballfield and Packanack Golf Club (7 Osborne Terrace).
- At the Packanack East Beach (73 Lake Drive East).
- At the Packanack Community Church (120 Lake Drive East).
The Mack Model 75-A pumper was bought in 1951, nine years after the fire department was established.
Company 5 previously operated with two, donated "hand-me-down" trucks before acquiring the pumper, McGrath said.
The pumper was in use from 1951-66 before being replaced by a larger truck, he added.
It was sold to the General Electric Fire Brigade in Lynn, Mass. before being moved to Vermont.
In April 2007, the owner contacted Packanack Lake Fire Company 5, and it was refurbished in 2013 by Pfahl’s Mack Truck Restoration of Bethlehem, Conn., McGrath said.
"The restoration is now finally complete and we could not be more pleased with the result," he added. "We feel the ‘51 Mack represents Fire Co. 5’s commitment to tradition and our dedication and service to the community. The truck was restored to its original condition to honor the history of Fire Co. #5 and the Packanack Lake community. We intend for this truck to be the centerpiece of our fire prevention and community programs. A garage made of mostly glass was added to the firehouse so the Mack will always be on display for everyone to enjoy."
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