Ottumwa’s Own 1925 American LaFrance Fire Truck Rides Again

Board members and volunteers have spent the past few months carefully tending to a 100-year-old icon of Ottumwa history, preparing for it to ride once again in the 2025 Ottumwa Oktoberfest parade. This is far from the first time the fire truck has been brought out of storage or disrepair to serve and inspire the community. 100 years after it was first delivered to Ottumwa, the 1925 American LaFrance still roars to life.

Cutting-Edge Firefighting in 1925

The first mention of the Ottumwa Fire Department going motorized was in 1914, when they retired the horse team from the central station, and purchased a White 60-horsepower combination chemical and hose motor truck, and not long after an aerial truck. In late 1915, they purchased another White model for the south side station. The American LaFrance was first mentioned in the September 15, 1925 Ottumwa Courier, when Fire Chief Charles Sloan and city commissioner Charles Sehl recommended replacement for the White trucks, with the purchase of two 1925 Type 75 Triple Combination Pumper trucks — one for the Central Station and one for the South Side — at a combined cost of $26,000.

At the time, these trucks represented the cutting edge of firefighting technology. Equipped with six-cylinder engines, 750-gallon-per-minute rotary pumps, pneumatic tires, and specialized storage for hoses, ladders, and tools, they were designed to deliver both power and efficiency for the time. Their heavy-duty construction made them ideal for tackling fires in the city’s commercial district, while their engineered pump systems ensured faster, more reliable water delivery than the older, smaller engines.

Serving the Community

From its delivery in late 1925, the LaFrance pumper O.F.D. #1 became a cornerstone of Ottumwa’s fire department. Primarily stationed at  the Central Fire Station (then on Market Street, southwest of 4th Street), it responded to fires across the city. Its heavier chassis and robust design made it a workhorse for downtown district blazes, but by 1931, the department found the heavy model less than ideal for the winding streets and hills of residential neighborhoods. The American LaFrance Truck #2 at the South Side Station was traded for a lighter streamlined model, while O.F.D. #1 soldiered on at the Central Station. Its rugged service led it to be familiarly referred to as the “town car” or the “donkey” by firefighters, journalists, and the community. While it was primarily in reserve following the purchase of a new central fire truck in 1939, the 1925 LaFrance would be called back for significant events, including the Hofmann Building fire in March 1940, and may have been pressed into service during the 1947 flood, pumping water out of the former Iowa Southern Utilities building.

Saved from Oblivion

By the 1950s, the 1925 LaFrance had been retired from duty, moved into storage at the municipal airport, and offered for sale by the city. While originally purchased for $100 by some Ottumwa outsiders, Ab Yochum, a long-time Ottumwa firefighter and community servant, considered it too valuable a piece of history to let it go. So he purchased it back to be put under the care of the Unique Car Club, a local group of auto enthusiasts who kept it carefully.

Ab’s connection to Ottumwa firefighting and fire safety ran deep. He served 29 years with the Ottumwa Fire Department, served as president of Local 395, and also ran Ab’s Fire Extinguisher Sales and Service, which he purchased in 1967 and operated until retiring in 1988. Drawing on his experience as a firefighter and a local fire safety professional, Ab was uniquely positioned to lead the truck’s restoration and preservation.

In 1981, Ab donated the truck to the Wapello County Historical Society, entrusting it to the community while ensuring it would be cared for by future generations.

Restoration efforts continued into the 1990s, with Ab and a team of volunteers — including classmates from the Ottumwa High School Class of 1945 — dedicating hundreds of hours to return the engine to working order. By late 1992, the engine was running again, and in 1993 its bright red paint and gold leaf had been restored.

Ab’s long-term preservation work extended beyond the LaFrance; by 1996, he had also restored a Poppin’ Johnnie 1948 Model B John Deere tractor, which was displayed alongside the LaFrance at the old museum location, highlighting his lifelong dedication to preservation and restoration of history.  

Preserved for Today and Tomorrow

Today, the 1925 American LaFrance Type 75 TRIP pumper continues to be cared for by the Wapello County Historical Society –  Iowa Heartland History Connection, where board members and volunteers continue the work begun by Ab Yochum decades ago. After months of maintenance, including some heavy-duty washing, fresh spark plugs, new batteries, and a tune-up, the truck is once again ready to roll — this time in the Oktoberfest parade.

The LaFrance’s revival is more than just a mechanical feat; it is a living connection to Ottumwa’s past. From decades of frontline service to storage, display, and multiple restorations, the truck embodies the city’s firefighting heritage and the dedication of those who preserved it. Each time it returns to the streets, it reminds the us of the legacy of service, resilience, and pride that generations have poured into this community.

As the 1925 LaFrance rolls once again, it not only honors the past but inspires a new generation to appreciate and preserve our rich history.