OLD FORGE — As a tribute to the Old Forge Firefighters Drill School, the Town of Webb Historical Association is hosting a Little Mo and Blitz Buggy Truck Muster from noon to 5 pm. Friday, Sept. 13 at the Goodsell Museum, 2993 Route 28.
The trucks will be on display on the Gilbert Street side of the museum. Museum representatives will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the history of these unique fire trucks. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to view fire trucks designed and made in the 1940s through the 1960s in Old Forge/Thendara.
Originally designed by Walter Lewis “Army” Armstrong, the trucks were to be a small, fast, first on scene fire truck that could spray water in multiple forms: stream to mist to fog, depending on the circumstances of the fire. It was built on a pickup or Jeep chassis, would be four-wheel drive, and be called the Hi-Pressure Blitz Buggy. Armstrong entered into business with Phil Burdick and Edward Hurley, forming the High Pressure Fog Company.
The trucks were built by the Brussels at Brussels’ Garage in Thendara. Armstrong was in charge of marketing and sales. He demonstrated, advertised, and sold the truck through his fire equipment business.
In 1953, Armstrong separated from the company and designed his second fire truck, the Little Mo..
