Central ND News

The City of Bismarck has reacquired a significant piece of its firefighting history, bringing back the 1926 Seagrave fire truck after it had been out of city ownership for decades. The vehicle, which was the second fire truck ever owned by Bismarck, was purchased from the Beck family for $25,000. It had previously been sold at a city surplus auction many years ago.

Bismarck Fire Chief Joel Boespflug commented on the importance of this acquisition: “This truck is a symbol of the pride and honor that we have in our tradition and history,” he said. “We’re very excited to have it and to be able to display it. It’s a tribute to those who served before us. We are extremely grateful to the Beck family and to (Bismarck City Administrator) Jason Tomanek for helping make this happen.”

The process leading up to the purchase involved several local connections and discussions about community history. Jason Tomanek explained how these conversations led him to visit the storage facility where the truck was kept: “It was one of those moments where local people were talking about local history and the right things happened at the right time,” Tomanek said. “Jim Beck mentioned the truck was for sale and the City Commissioners agreed it was a piece of our history worth bringing home.”

City Commissioner John Risch highlighted what this means for residents: “This fire truck means a lot to the community,” Risch said. “For decades, it played a key role in protecting our citizens. It’s living history, not just a photo or a story. We want to have it out in the community, especially in 2026 when it turns 100 years old.”

Fire Captain Chris Anderson provided historical context on how important this particular vehicle was as Bismarck transitioned from horse-drawn equipment to motorized response: The ’26 Seagrave arrived in December 1926 after being built in Ohio for $12,500 and began service with its first fire call on March 22, 1927. Notably, during the Capitol Building fire on December 28, 1930, it served as Bismarck’s only responding unit when another truck became stuck en route.

Anderson also noted that during its operational life, including an incident where it pumped water continuously for two days during a major fire in 1946, "Firefighters take a lot of pride in their work, their department and the history of their department," Anderson said. "We were the first organized fire department in the Dakotas – this is a way to honor that legacy. With the research I’ve done recently, I’ve learned a lot about this truck and I’m probably more excited about it than anybody else. Seeing it in front of me, it was surreal. But as a department, we are all extremely excited and proud of what it represents."

After serving until sometime in the 1960s—and appearing regularly in parades until three years ago—the Seagrave has not been running recently but will now undergo restoration by Public Works mechanics.

There are plans under consideration regarding public display options once repairs are complete; one idea is storing it at Station #2 with glass panels so passersby can view it from outside.

“In the long term, it will be wonderful to find an appropriate location and means to display it permanently to share it with the community,” Tomanek added. “I’d love to see it in parades or used in fun ways … maybe even a contest where the winner gets a ride to school in it. I’d say, just keep an eye out for it.”