Excerpts from Journal-topics.com: For nearly 50 years, Ralph R. Bishop often shared stories about his hometown of Park Ridge with members of the Park Ridge Historical Society. One of his favorite memories was his time with the Lil’ Pirsch fire truck, a vehicle that first arrived in the city in 1921. His father, Ralph E. Bishop, was the fire chief when the city purchased the pumper, which was built by Nash. The original chassis is now celebrating its 100th anniversary, but by 1932, the department felt it needed an upgrade. They replaced the hard tires and wooden spokes on the wheels and doubled the water tank capacity from 250 to 500 gallons. This renovation, done by Peter Pirsch & Sons of Kenosha, WI, gave the truck a new name—the Lil’ Pirsch—and an official age based on the 1932 parts. Growing up in a family deeply connected to the fire department, Ralph and his brother Emmett learned how to care for the truck, drive it, and even repair Model T Fords. The Lil’ Pirsch was more than just a machine—it was part of their lives. Eventually, the truck was retired from active service and sold to the Drake Funeral Home. It continued to appear in local parades, and Ralph was often asked to be the driver. But after some time, the truck was moved to Memphis, TN, where it eventually ended up in the Memphis Fire Department’s museum. Park Ridge Historical Society photo The Park Ridge Historical Society wanted to bring the Lil’ Pirsch back home. For eight years, archivist Brian Lazzaro and Ralph worked together to prove that the truck on display in Memphis was indeed the same one that had served Park Ridge decades ago. Ralph still had old paperwork, including part numbers and photos, to help support their case. Finally, the Memphis Fire Department agreed to sell the truck to the Historical Society. The purchase price was $20,000, and an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 would be needed for restoration before it could run again. Lazzaro and his son drove down last year to retrieve the truck and bring it back to Illinois on a flatbed. Upon returning, they made a special stop at Des Plaines, where Ralph and his wife Ramona had recently moved. Ralph came out with a walker, wearing a mask and a big smile. The Pirsch arrived with a Park Ridge flag pinned on its side—a perfect gift for his 93rd birthday. The Bishops donated many items to the historical society and fire department archives, including a diary that documented the pumper's first year in service. During the summer of 2020, the pandemic brought challenges—public events were canceled, and access to the Park Ridge History Center was limited. Despite this, the Historical Society managed to raise around $10,000 online through donations from members, friends, and local businesses via their website: www.parkridgefiretruck.com. Donations can also be sent by mail to: 721 N. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068. Additional support is still needed to complete the restoration and preserve this piece of history. Magnetic Cylinder,Magnetic Roller,High-Accuracy Magnetic Roller,Durable Magnetic Roller Jetfly High Precision Manufacturing Co.,Ltd , https://www.jetflytech.com