The East Texas Historical Fire Society recently held their 24th Annual Muster on the shores of beautiful Lake Palestine, in the heart of the piney woods of East Texas.  Texas Fire Museum, the Gulf Coast Chapter from Houston, and the Signal 51 Buff Group from Shreveport, Louisiana, were on hand for the activities.

The new apparatus participants for this year’s muster included Don Reynolds’ 1928 ALF Type 17 Tractor (ex-Austin, TX), Matt Barbee’s 1968 Mack Model CF-600 (ex-Paris, TX), Jerry Hope’s 1971 ALF 1000 Series Engine (ex-Syosset, NY and Claiborne Parish, LA), and Tim Treadway’s 1981 Mack CF-600 Pumper (ex-Madison, NJ) and 1981 Mack CF-600 75’ Aerialscope (ex-Madison, NJ).  John Fuston’s 1932 GMC (ex-Paris, TX), always a crowd pleaser, was also there as were apparatus from the Lake Palestine East VFD.

Apparatus award winners from the TFM family included “Oldest Apparatus” to Don Reynolds for his 1928 ALF Type 17 Tractor and “President’s Choice” to Matt Barbee for his 1968 Mack Model CF-600.  Other TFM members participating in this year’s muster included Mike Barbee, Herbert Dunn, John Fuston, Steve Dalpe, Jerry Hope, Tony Jimenez, Jim McGee, Cheryl McGee, Charlie Womack, and Lindsay Dye.

We certainly extend our thanks to David Crim, Earle Crim, Dave Schlottach, Alex McCommas, and the rest of the East Texas group for their fine presentation and hospitality.  Also, a special thank you goes out to the staff of Sweet Sue’s Restaurant for providing an excellent assortment of home cooked vittles during lunch.