Loaded onto a flat car at Elmira, N.Y. and then shipped to Westerly, R.I. then driven to Watch Hill Fire department, where it was officially "accepted" on September 14, 1917. The engine served with a commercial chassis American LaFrance Chemical/Hose Wagon, in the old Watch Hill Fire station. Having fought numerous large hotel fires and other fires in Watch Hill and nearby communities, the 1917 LaFrance was assigned reserve status. Legend has it that the pump was damaged by ingested sand, and was removed and placed outside to be picked-up and re-built.... but someone stole the all bronze pump for its high scrap value.

In the Early 50's Groton Long Point Volunteer Fire Company Member, Walt Mosher, acquired the antique, sans pump, for his antique auto museum, located at that time in what came to be Ted's Sales Room on 184 Old Mystic (Burned Down). Company Meeting minutes indicate that the antique continued to be invited to Elk's Parades and Groton parades in the 50's and 60's. When it appeared in parades, it temporarily became "property of the fire department."

In 1966 a committee was established to investigate buying the American LaFrance. In September the American LaFrance was purchased for $500. Repairs to the radiator and attempts to find housing continued into 1967, and in 1970 profits from the Harvest Dinner Dance were earmarked to purchase a new pump and radiator. It is not clear from Company records when the new pump was located but oral history has it that a used fire pump was located and procured in Hershey, PA. The pump was installed on the chassis frame, but not made operational.

In 1975 Watch Hill Fire Department offered to buy back the American LaFrance. The Company voted NO.

With radiator leaks keeping it out of parades, lack of storage space, and promises of restoration went unfulfilled, the company voted in February 1978, by slim margin to sell the antique LaFrance. In March 1979 the antique was appraised at "under $1,600" still unsold and the company still searching for a place to store it. In March 1980 "someone" offered $1,000 for the American LaFrance, but it wasn't removed until July 1980.

In August 1985, there was some interest expressed in locating the antique's whereabouts. Plans had been made for the owner of the Fisherman Restaurant to use it as a Salad bar. Member Bob Innes offered to continue restoration if the antique was returned to the company.

Rich Froh discovered the old LaFrance in storage at Seaport Marine in Mystic. In May 1987, a committee was formed to get the 1917 LaFrance back, and Bob Innes arranged to have Seaport Marine owner Malcolm Robertson and Antique owner Jim Woviotis donate the antique to the company, thus recouping their storage fees. With the help of Rich Froh's hydraulic boat lifting trailer and some heaving and grunting by members, "Alfie" was liberated from Seaport Marine.

July 4th 1987 marked the return of the 1917 LaFrance to the G.L.P. Parade, towed behind the attack pumper.

In the spring of 1988, Committee members traveled to the Hudson Fire Museum, in Hudson New York, and to Croton, NY for a antique fire apparatus muster, to view other restored antique LaFrance pumpers, and plans where made to rebuild the motor.

In fall 1988, the radiator was rebuilt in Maine by an 80-year old artisan, and the engine was delivered to Peter Pitcher in Perryville, RI for a complete rebuild. 

It wasn't until the spring of 1989 that we saw "Alife" running again under its own power, but "Alife" was in need for a major "Face-Lift".  Sadly the original photos and documents where lost, and the Antique Restoration Committee began what became years of careful research.

In Fall of 1989 quick action by GLP resident Don Senecal helped the Company secure a large cache of rare, missing parts, and through the years until Spring of 1993 the procurement of missing parts, repairs, complete disassembly, sand-blasting, painting, decoration and re-assembly (in the basement of the Noank Fire Station) continued, with the vast majority of the restoration being performed by GLP-VF Company members under the direction of Rich Froh. Memorial Day saw the project nearing completion and on the evening of July 3rd, 1993, Members at the GLP fire Station heard the unmistakable sound of the big T-head six cylinder as it approached and the result of seven long years of fundraising and toil by GLPVF company mebmers drove into view.

On July 4, 1993, Groton Long Point renewed her love affair with the newly restored piece of firefighting history, the rolling piece of industrial art known affectionately as "Alfie". Since then, Alfie has continued to acquire missing parts, win awards and most importantly, bring a smile to thousands of faces, young and old. One major windfall happened after most of the restoration work had been completed.

At the beginning of one meeting of the committee that designed out current Engine G-81, Chief Doug Perina casually tossed an old folder on the meeting table and mentioned, "Here are some specifications you might be interested in seeing". Puzzled, upon opening the packet, members were shocked to find all of "Alife's" "missing" Documentation, including the factory photo, delivery records and maintenance records. The irreplaceable and invaluable documents had been found at Alfie's former storage place at Seaport Marine, and was thoughtfully returned to us.

In January, 2000, having lost Alfie's Storage which had been generously provided by the Mystic Fire Department in the old B.F. Hoxie Station, the Company purchased a new, enclosed vehicle trailer in order to both house and transport the antique.

Every minute of effort spent throughout the years in procuring, running, maintaining, restoring, housing, displaying and transporting Alfie had been repaid a hundredfold with smiles of delight, and even a few tears of joy and remembrance.

Celebrating 50 years; Groton Long Point Volunteer Fire Company