The 1932 Mack Truck, which was our department's very first motorized Hook & Ladder vehicle, was designed by members of the Stony Brook Fire Department to be a combination ladder and pumper truck.

After our specifications were sent to several different truck companies, the bid was awarded to the Mack Truck Company in 1932. The original cost was $6620, quite a sum of money in those days.

The truck was delivered to the fire department in the late summer of 1932, and it was put into service by the early fall. The specifications for the truck were perhaps not completely thought out as it was ordered and delivered without a windshield. It was not long after that winter was over that a windshield was purchased and installed! Brrr!

For over twenty-eight years the Mack proudly served the residents of Stony Brook and the surrounding communities, with its trussed wooden ladders and the Northern 350 gallons per minute (GPM) Pump.

Over the years, equipment such as floodlights, a portable generator, along with other fire service innovations, were added.

In 1960, some twenty-eight years after it’s purchase, the vehicle was traded in to the Mack Truck Company for a newer truck. However, our 1932 Mack Truck quickly found a home with another Long Island Fire Department and later was sold to a fire department in New England.

It remained in New England until it was sold to a private museum in the town of Catskill, NY. It's fire fighting days had come to an end.

In 1980, the museum contacted our department to advise us that they were putting the vehicle up for sale, and wanted us to have the first crack for it’s purchase as it still had the original paint scheme on the vehicle identifying the Stony Brook Fire Department.

Our membership voted unanimously to purchase the truck for the sum of $4500. A group of fireman drove to Catskill, NY and the truck was placed on a trailer and driven home to its original place of residence, Stony Brook, NY.

A committee of the department membership was then established to research and refurbish the truck as closely as possible to it’s original condition. A great deal of time, labor, money, and love went into restoring the truck to the original 1932 service condition, along with a full compliment of working vintage equipment, even including turnout gear worn during that time. This was a labor of love by these members and the vehicle clearly shows it.

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Since it's restoration, every summer the Stony Brook Fire Department proudly displays our 1932 Mack on the 'muster circuit' throughout Long Island and nearby states. Because of the excellent condition of the truck, along with its unusual combination and appearance, we often are the center of attention for camera buffs. The trophies we've won testify to the success, dedication, and the pride we have in this truck.

The Mack is stored inside our Station #2 building and protected with a lined cover. We transport the truck using a special trailer to all events pulled by a refurbished tow vehicle.

Our 1932 Mack is the show-piece and pride of the Stony Brook Fire Department.