The Early Years, continued...
by L. Wayne Kidd, Life Member
Also in 1974 Lakeside began what I believe was a first for any Rescue
Squad. We entered into an agreement with a local ad agency for Sears to
promote Sears Tires. In consideration Sears provided free radial tires
for Lakeside units along with a monthly donation for over a year while
photographs of Lakeside units with Sears tires installed could be found
displayed in local Sears stores. Radio ads talked about the performance
of Sears tires on emergency equipment.
1976 would be a year of many changes at Lakeside. The third modular
ambulance was ordered, again from Murphy but this one would be much
different. With all of the new equipment carried on the ambulances it
was found that units were very close to being over weight once a crew
and patient were added. A decision was made to switch to a dual rear
wheel chassis and a slightly larger body and a Ford F-350 was ordered.
The biggest and certainly the most noticeable change would be in the
color. Since 1958 all Lakeside units had been solid white. The Federal
Government had begun a push for all ambulances to be either orange or
lime to qualify for Federal grant monies. Lakeside's
Board of Directors proposed a switch to lime and white. This was during
the time that Henrico Fire was switching to solid lime apparatus (the
white tops would come later). There was some resistance to the change
among the older members who insisted on remaining white trimmed in
green. The stalemate was broken when we began to refer to the "new"
color as lime green instead of lime yellow. The new lime green and white
color scheme was adopted along with a switch to gold lettering outlined
in black. It was also decided that the squad patch and door logo would
be updated. The green cross that had been in the center of the patch
would be replaced with the "Star of Life" to better reflect Lakeside's
commitment to the rapidly advancing EMS field
This unit, the last of the Murphy's was according to those superstitious
members of the squad appropriately numbered (unit 13) as it was trouble
from day one. First it was delivered to Murphy with transmission
problems. While there someone backed into it and bent the bumper. A week
before it was delivered to us from Murphy it was recalled by Ford for a
brake problem. When it arrived it went directly to Colonial Ford. This
was the night of the Little Oil tire. The next day the unit was black
from the soot from the fire. The dual rear wheels made it ride so rough
that many would not use it. After several long years it was traded on a
new unit and subsequently sold to Powhatan Rescue Squad where it served
several years until again sold, this time to a private ambulance
service. It was repainted orange and white and run by them for several
years and often seen running up and down 1-95 between Hopewell and
Richmond.
Only one other unit was repainted in the new color scheme, the crash
truck. At this time it also received the "twin Sonic" light bar so as to
match the other vehicles. This truck would continue to serve Lakeside
for many years until it was replaced in the early 80s with a new Mack /
Swab. The 1971 was sold to Covington Fire and First Aid Squad where it
served for many years. I last saw it in the mid 90s sitting in a field
beside M&W Fire Apparatus with a for sale sign in the window. All other
units were switched to the new colors as they were replaced.
Well that is a quick look at vehicle history during the early years at
Lakeside. Things have continued to change as the squad has kept up with
the advances. Diesels are now the norm as are the van chassis. Time
marches on If anyone has any corrections or can provide data to fill
gaps I would appreciate hearing from you. |
