Quote:
Originally Posted by jmen24
You are very close with this story, the only thing missing is that Loudon did not have a per se "ladder truck" that needed to be replaced. They did not have one at all. If you remember the old fire station next to the library had two overhead doors and neither were tall enough for a ladder truck, and the old secondary station on Lower Ridge Road is the size of two car garage and house two support vehicles only.
The great thing was Bob and Gary donating the truck, the bad thing was the taxpayers of Loudon having to fit the bill for the new safety complex to house the new ladder truck.
When I hear folks say what could you possibly need a 100' tower for in Meredith, two complexes come to mind, Millsfalls and Church Landing. Think about how they would combat a fire on the upper stories of those buildings combined with the set back from the road, seems like a no-brainer to me.
For anyone that has shopped for a tractor for a farm, you will know, but it is always easier to do a small job with a big tractor than a big job with a small tractor.
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Your post has re-arranged the gray matter between my ears!
You are right, there was no pure ladder truck. I am also sure the donated truck was the tip of the iceberg. The place to house it had to cost much more than the truck. However, Loudon must have made some gain from having the track there, as far as increase in tax base.
I do know that the donation of the ladder truck is what allowed the project that became NHIS to move forward. I just cannot believe that was 20 years ago. Time is moving way too fast!
You are also right regarding the need to cover the large buildings in Meredith often loaded with people. I am not a Meredith tax payer. I pay my NH taxes in Laconia, but I believe it was a justifiable purchase when you consider the Mills Falls and Church landing complexes. Mills falls is tall, Church Landing is large with a lot of the building that is very hard to access from the land side.
Next will come the big fire boat.
R2B