A rare find

Out of the ashes of the Great Dance Hall Fire of 1919, a new organization rose like the mighty Phoenix to serve the residents of Ville Platte and the surrounding areas. This new organization was the Ville Platte Volunteer Fire Department which was officially created in 1920.
Seven years later, the department purchased its first self-powered fire engine, which was an American LaFrance Pumper, from a factory in Elmira, N.Y. The engine was then shipped here to Ville Platte by train.
Over the years, the engine was sold multiple times, and much of its story had been lost.
It has since been located in the state and is returning to the city’s fire department. “It’s a rare opportunity for a department to get its first truck or even parts of its first truck because, normally, a truck that old rarely exists,” said VPVFD Training Officer Chris Soileau.
He continued, “I’m just thrilled to have an opportunity to bring it back. The rarity of this reacquisition is almost miraculous. It just doesn’t happen.”
Making the find more miraculous is the fact the truck still has its original Continental engine. “That’s another rare thing if you get a truck with the original engine that still runs,” Soileau said.
Up until several years ago, much of the story regarding the 1927 fire engine remained a mystery.
“I’ve been in the department for 30 years,” Soileau said, “and I’ve always had an interest in our history and our old trucks.”
Most of the history Soileau found had been compiled by former firefighters such as John Wayne Johnson and former Fire Chief Ted Demourelle. But, as Soileau explained, “there was a gap in years.”
He went on to explain, “We know the department was established in 1920, and I know there was a Pierce Apparatus in the late 1930s that was our No. 2 engine.”
Soileau first learned of the existence of the original truck when he went on a Ville Platte Facebook page and saw a picture Richard DesHotels posted showing the G. Ardoin Co. and a fire truck “with guys riding on the running boards.”
Soileau knew the truck in the picture was not the 1930s Apparatus and became curious about the truck in the picture. He posted the picture on an antique fire apparatus group page on Facebook.
“About 15 minutes later, I got a message saying the truck was a 1927 American LaFrance Model B516 that was shipped out on July 27, 1927, to Ville Platte.”
Sending Soileau the message was Ray Bennett who is the curator of the North Charleston American LaFrance Fire Museum in South Carolina.
Through more conversations with Bennett and others, along with his own research online, Soileau discovered the truck was purchased in 1927 and used here in Ville Platte up until 1950 when the 1950 Mack Engine No. 3 was purchased.
“We still have that 1950 Mack,” Soileau said. “It was used as late as the 1990 G. Ardoin fire on Main Street. It replaced the 1927 which was put out to pasture behind the fire station at some point.”
Soileau continued, “In 1969, a gentleman from Baldwin acquired the truck and rebuilt it for himself. He kept the original paperwork with it, and all of that remained with the truck. Later on, the truck was sold to a collector in the late 1990s.”
Soileau discovered the collector is from Houma and had the truck in his garage.
“I started searching and found the guy,” Soileau said, “but it got put on the back burner. It took about two years before we were able to get to Houma and see the truck. Once we did, earlier this year, it became reality and a few more people embraced the idea.”
The department has since been making arrangements for the reacquisition.
“We made some temporary funding available to be able to buy it,” Soileau explained. “We’re just asking for anyone to donate to the cause because our goal is to not take anything out of our Fire Prevention Program funding that is all donated as well.”
He continued, “We’ve had a wonderful outpouring so far. Our guys are putting up personal donations, and we have people who are donating in memory of old volunteers.”
All donors will be recognized, and the top donors will be recognized with a plaque on the truck.
VPFD Captain Joel Manuel said the truck will be used for all of the fire prevention classes, parades, and funerals once it is returned to the city.
Manuel concluded, “It’s a rare find. It’s something you can’t replace. We’re not going to let it disappear again.”