Homecoming: The Mighty Pirsch Comes Home

One of the long-term goals of our Memorial Foundation took a huge step towards realization a few weeks ago.

In mid-July, we were contacted that the 1958 Peter Pirsch Fire Engine, previously serving as CFFD Engine 2 throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, was found and being put up for sale once again.  The ’58 Pirsch as it is known to us, was originally purchased by the City in 1957 and put in service as Engine 2 on April 11^th, 1958.  After several decades of service, it was sold by the City in August of 1982.  Valv-Trol, an industrial valve manufacturer in Stow, purchased the truck and used it for many years to test larger, high-pressure valves.  It was sold again in 2020 to a private collector, who through the help of Steve Wallace, a grandson of a CFFD retiree, sold it to Cuyahoga Falls Ward 5 Councilman Mike Brillhart in July.  Councilman Brillhart, has been a huge supporter of the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation and donated the Pirsch back to the Foundation to be used in parades and most importantly as the hearse, or “last call” truck for firefighter funerals. The plan is that the Pirsch will be restored and the hosebed will be modified to accommodate a casket for funeral duty.  Currently the Pirsch is being stored at CFFD Station 3 on Portage Trail.

The bell that was originally mounted on the Pirsch was removed and given to Chief Elmer Brown as a retirement gift in 1981.  Ironically, earlier this year the Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society returned that bell to the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation to display at Station 1.  Remarkably, as if it was destined to be, the fire truck it was originally from found its way back to us only a few months later.

In the few weeks since the Pirsch has been back in a Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station, we have removed a 750-gallon polymer water tank that Valv-Trol had installed and re-mounted the original hose reels, which had thoughtfully been kept and preserved.  Chief Brown’s retirement bell was also re-installed after being separated from the truck for over 40 years.  A plaque denoting the bell’s history will be mounted on the truck after restoration.

The Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation remains committed to its primary mission: to create and maintain a memorial to the men and women who have served our community as members of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, especially our two Line-of-Duty deaths, Capt. Earl Weirick and Firefighter Frank Schuman. 

All donations or sponsorships received by the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation will be used for the construction of this memorial.  No funds that have been received to date have been used to purchase or restore the Pirsch.  Fundraising for the Pirsch restoration is a separate project and will be managed independently of the memorial project. 

Last month, CFFD retirees were welcomed back to Station 3 for a late-summer cookout to catch up and finally see the Pirsch back home where it belongs.  Several of them had fond memories of riding on that same truck over 40 years ago.  It was a special night for all.

The community is invited to come see the Pirsch at our 2^nd Annual Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation Pancake Breakfast on Saturday September 24^th, from 8am-noon at Station 3 on Portage Trail (next to Bolich).  Breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee and donuts.  Enter a raffle for a chance to win a ride in the bucket of Tower 3, rising over 100’ above Station 3.  Come out and see us and hear more about our plans for our firefighter memorial and our historic fire truck.

The Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation wishes to extend our most sincere gratitude to Steve Wallace and Mike Brillhart for their generosity and assistance with bringing this piece of CFFD history home.