Kurt Halverson
PCS Northland Chapter President
Over Labor Day weekend, I was finally able to bring my Lifeliner back to visit the community it used to serve in the 1980's. As I shared recently in the "Downsized Ambulance" thread, my car served in Tracy, Minnesota. This last weekend, my wife, my parents and I were able to head to Tracy for their annual Labor Day celebration which is called Boxcar Days. The town of Tracy has a strong railroad heritage, and this celebration started many decades ago to celebrate that. Their are many fun activities over the weekend, with the grand finale of a parade on Monday.
Earlier this summer, I contacted the folks at Tracy Ambulance to let them know that I have one of their former rigs, and that I would be happy to bring the car out for the parade. The rep I spoke with thought that would be a lot of fun, so I put it on my calendar and worked hard to get the car all ready.
We drove out Saturday without any issue. As soon as we arrived at my grandparent's house, my grandma said that she was instructed by Homer Dobson that I was to call him as soon as I got into town. I called Homer, and he asked that I stop by his place in an hour. For those of you who did not catch my history in previous posts, Homer is a close family friend who helped to organize Tracy Ambulance in the early 1970s. The picture of my car that Tony Karsnia posted in the "Classy Cadillacs" thread shows Homer standing by the Lifeliner.
Upon arriaval at Homers, I was able to show him and his wife, Betty, the car. They both loved it! As a bonus, a man stopped by that used to be a funeral director and on the ambulance service. His last name was Kelley, and I think his first name was Richard. He mentioned a couple of times that this car had more head room than the 1960 ambulance that he used to run had.
I took Homer for a ride around town in the car, and he said that it brought back a lot of memories. He shared some stories which I can share another time. When we got back to his place, we were standing in his driveway chatting. Homer, with his typical sense of humor, asked if I had enough muscle to open the hatch on his minivan. When I did, I was greeted by the sight of a great big chrome Federal Q2B! Homer said that he had kept it off of one of the old rigs, and he wanted me to have it! I was so touched by his gesture.
I went back to my grandparents and backed the car into the driveway. My grandfather, who is in a wheelchair, was out in the garage enjoying some sunshine. I was able to show him the car and explain some of the different equipment on it. Later in the day, my dad and I offered to take grandpa for a ride in the ambulance. We told him that we would just put him on the cot and take him for a drive. He just smiled and shook his head, but I have a feeling that if we would have pressed it, he would have taken us up on the offer.
Having the car parked at their place did cause an un-thought of consequence. I noticed my grandmother started catching neighbors when they were outside to explain that her and my grandfather were just fine, and nothing had happened to them. I guess I am so used to knowing that these types of ambulances are no longer in use, that I never considered what the general public might think!
When Monday rolled around, my father and I met up with the crew from Tracy Ambulance to get into the parade line up. The Ambulance Leader Charlie DeShepper remembered working out of the car. He said that another old Tracy ambulance went to Canada and is currently in a museum there. He was not sure on the make or year of the rig, but he thought it was red and white in color.
During the parade, I got a lot of compliments from the locals. One guy shouted "Hey, I used to wash that car!" When we got to the spot in the parade where my grandmother, mom and wife were watching, I gave a "Hi mom!" over the p.a. I guess that got a laugh out of some of the gals that were sitting by her.
My goal since buying the car has been to take it back to Tracy to participate in the parade and share it with the townspeople. I had a blast in doing so, and I am looking forward to making many more memories with the car.
As a side note, Tracy Ambulance's website has a nice history section. I believe that the Cadillac pictured is the one that Mr. Kelley was referring to:http://www.tracyemergencyservices.c...tion=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=26
Thank you,
Kurt
Earlier this summer, I contacted the folks at Tracy Ambulance to let them know that I have one of their former rigs, and that I would be happy to bring the car out for the parade. The rep I spoke with thought that would be a lot of fun, so I put it on my calendar and worked hard to get the car all ready.
We drove out Saturday without any issue. As soon as we arrived at my grandparent's house, my grandma said that she was instructed by Homer Dobson that I was to call him as soon as I got into town. I called Homer, and he asked that I stop by his place in an hour. For those of you who did not catch my history in previous posts, Homer is a close family friend who helped to organize Tracy Ambulance in the early 1970s. The picture of my car that Tony Karsnia posted in the "Classy Cadillacs" thread shows Homer standing by the Lifeliner.
Upon arriaval at Homers, I was able to show him and his wife, Betty, the car. They both loved it! As a bonus, a man stopped by that used to be a funeral director and on the ambulance service. His last name was Kelley, and I think his first name was Richard. He mentioned a couple of times that this car had more head room than the 1960 ambulance that he used to run had.
I took Homer for a ride around town in the car, and he said that it brought back a lot of memories. He shared some stories which I can share another time. When we got back to his place, we were standing in his driveway chatting. Homer, with his typical sense of humor, asked if I had enough muscle to open the hatch on his minivan. When I did, I was greeted by the sight of a great big chrome Federal Q2B! Homer said that he had kept it off of one of the old rigs, and he wanted me to have it! I was so touched by his gesture.
I went back to my grandparents and backed the car into the driveway. My grandfather, who is in a wheelchair, was out in the garage enjoying some sunshine. I was able to show him the car and explain some of the different equipment on it. Later in the day, my dad and I offered to take grandpa for a ride in the ambulance. We told him that we would just put him on the cot and take him for a drive. He just smiled and shook his head, but I have a feeling that if we would have pressed it, he would have taken us up on the offer.
Having the car parked at their place did cause an un-thought of consequence. I noticed my grandmother started catching neighbors when they were outside to explain that her and my grandfather were just fine, and nothing had happened to them. I guess I am so used to knowing that these types of ambulances are no longer in use, that I never considered what the general public might think!
When Monday rolled around, my father and I met up with the crew from Tracy Ambulance to get into the parade line up. The Ambulance Leader Charlie DeShepper remembered working out of the car. He said that another old Tracy ambulance went to Canada and is currently in a museum there. He was not sure on the make or year of the rig, but he thought it was red and white in color.
During the parade, I got a lot of compliments from the locals. One guy shouted "Hey, I used to wash that car!" When we got to the spot in the parade where my grandmother, mom and wife were watching, I gave a "Hi mom!" over the p.a. I guess that got a laugh out of some of the gals that were sitting by her.
My goal since buying the car has been to take it back to Tracy to participate in the parade and share it with the townspeople. I had a blast in doing so, and I am looking forward to making many more memories with the car.
As a side note, Tracy Ambulance's website has a nice history section. I believe that the Cadillac pictured is the one that Mr. Kelley was referring to:http://www.tracyemergencyservices.c...tion=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=26
Thank you,
Kurt
