The Daily Chronicle has a story about Jerry Taylor, a retired Sycamore firefighter, recently found himself back in the spotlight after a long-forgotten memory resurfaced. He was one of the first to respond to a call with the city’s very first motorized fire engine. It all happened on July 2, 1952, when Sycamore firefighters were called to what turned out to be a false alarm at the old East School. Despite the mistake, Taylor couldn’t resist jumping aboard the 1923 Stutz fire engine, which had just been introduced to the department. Unfortunately, the moment didn’t go as planned—while rushing to the scene, he was struck by a pick-up truck used for grass fires, resulting in a skull fracture and a broken elbow. Now 86 years old, Taylor was reminded of that day last week when he saw the historic fire engine again for the first time in decades. The emotional experience brought back memories that had been buried for over 70 years. To honor this piece of local history, the Sycamore Fire Preservation Company, led by Gene Ege—a former fire chief—is working to restore the 1923 Stutz. Their goal is to raise $25,000 to get the vehicle back in working condition. So far, they’ve raised half of that amount through donations from individuals and local businesses. If you'd like to help, you can contact Sycamore Assistant Fire Chief Marc Doty at 815-895-4514, Gene Ege at 815-761-8844, or the DeKalb County Community Foundation at 815-748-5383. Donations can also be made online at www.dekalbccf.org, with checks made out to “Sycamore Fire Preservation Company LTD. Fund.†The group will host a fundraiser on September 20 at 6:15 p.m. at the Sycamore Veterans Memorial Home, located at 121 California Street. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Kris Morris at 815-762-3050. Ege explained that the ultimate goal is to get the engine running again so it can be displayed in parades and other community events. A local mechanic has already repaired the wooden spokes, and more work is needed on the batteries and wiring to determine if the engine can be fully restored. Though many of the original firefighters who served with the Stutz have passed away, Ege discovered that four of them are still alive today, according to records dating back to the 1910s. This makes the restoration even more meaningful for the community. A close inspection of the fire engine reveals the faded word “Sycamore†on its hood, a symbol of a proud past that the preservation team hopes to bring back to life. Thanks, Dan Customized Holographic Tamper Evident Labels Customized Holographic Tamper Evident Labels,Laser Anti-Counterfeit Sticker,3D Laser Anti-Counterfeit Hologram Label,Laser Anti-Counterfeit Hologram Label SHENZHEN SENING PACKING MATERIAL CO.,LTD , https://www.seningpacking.com