In the junkyard behind Tom Hearn Automotive in Cobbs Creek, between a derelict school bus and the rusted-out shell of a C-10 pickup, sits Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Truck No. 2.

A young tree grows up through the engine compartment where a Chevrolet motor once hummed. The truck’s firefighting accoutrements are long gone, save for a spotlight mounted above the driver’s side of the cab.

The unit was the second vehicle owned by the Mathews Volunteer Fire Department. It was the first to feature a water tank and hoses, as the original unit in service relied on acid and other chemicals to fight blazes. 

Getting this new engine took longer than planned, as Gazette-Journal archives indicate that in 1947 the public seemed hesitant to fund the purchase.

“Colonel H.F. Dunlap, who was authorized to solicit funds for the purchase of the fire apparatus, reports that contributions are not being received as was anticipated,” an Oct. 2, 1947 story explained.

The ...