For generations, the firemen’s fair parade in Warren has stirred excitement with the thunder of sirens and the sight of gleaming fire trucks rolling down Main Street. For one local resident, preserving that magic means more than just memories.

Don Worley’s 1928 American LaFrance fire truck, lovingly restored and proudly driven, has become a staple of Warren’s 4th of July parade since the 1980s. And while it’s not a parade day, Worley and Erie News Now’s John Last took to the streets to relive that thrill.

"Who wouldn’t?" said Worley from the driver’s seat. "That’s why I got it. Just to be able to ride around in that thing. Look at this!"

The truck’s story goes back nearly a century. It first served the Bradford Fire Department until 1952, then spent two decades at the Bradford Airport. After sitting abandoned in an oil field, Don found it in 1977.

"I looked at it. It was pretty beat up... wooden wheels, chain drive... I had to have that," he said.

It took five years of careful restoration, but the result has been decades of crowd-pleasing appearances. 

Beyond the fire truck, Don’s passion for preserving history extends to his workshop, where he maintains 40 antique engines, including 25 once used in the Warren County oil fields. Most were built locally in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

"There were five companies in Warren that I know of," Worley explained. "I’ve got an example of each one."

Though retired, Worley’s full-time hobby keeps him connected to the past, and to his community. Whether it’s restoring a rare engine or ringing the bell atop his beloved fire truck, Don Worley is keeping local history alive.