A State's ultimate wisdom

Let me tell you about an antique vehicle, a fire department, a State and the Bicentennial.

In 1976 the United States celebrated it's 200th Anniversary, The Bicentennial. All over the country parades were held and parties were thrown. Even the British got into the act and the Her Majesty's Ship Matapan sailed into New London harbor and joined a local Fire department for a few days of partying, with sailors staying at firemen's homes during the festivities.

But that's another story, (stories!!!). 

The Fire department came up with an idea, years earlier they had donated a fire engine to the State. The State parked it on the property of a school for handicapped persons. The engine had become part of the recreational area sitting along side slides and swing sets. The vehicle was rusted, dented, broken, and just a mess. The Fire department came up with the idea that they would cut this truck out of the weeds and tow it through the parade as the unit with the most battle scars, then restore the unit. They contacted the State School and since that area where the engine sat was no longer in use, the School's director gave the Fire department permission to take the engine back. So the department cleared the area, dug the unit up out of the sand, and had it towed out.They stored it before the parade, at the home of one of the firemen while they cleaned it up and made it safe to tow through a parade. 

In the mean time, the School's Director contacted the State to let them know that the safety hazard had been removed from the property. This is where all plan's came to an end. The State notified the Fire Department that they could not have it back because "technically" it was State property. The Fire department offered to "buy" the unit back at the price of $1. to make the transaction legal, since the State really didn't want it either. The State notified the FD that State property cannot be sold, it would have to be auctioned off and that the unit had to be returned to the school site. The Fire Department returned the unit, awaiting to hear details on an auction. The State had made a different decision, instead of auctioning the unit off, they decided to use the old engine for the new expansion construction going on. So While excavating the area for the new swimming pool being built at the school the dug a little deeper, shoved the engine in, buried it and built the pool and building over the top of it.

So today, under a swimming pool at a school which is closed down, sits a 1920's Seagrave Fire Engine. 

I guess when you think about it, it's almost fitting...Seagrave...Poolgrave.

Not actual unit (sample foto)