This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from June 10, 2019. 

For years, many have heard that the Boone Fire Department in Western North Carolina once had a tiller. And it was parked in the rear of Station 1, in an downstairs bay accessed by an alley. 

After years of searching–okay, occasional searching–Mr. History found this story in March 14, 1976, edition of the Charlotte Observer. That year, Appalachian State University donated a 1942 Seagrave tractor-drawn aerial ladder to the town. The 100-foot ladder formerly served Easton, PA. 

It was purchased for $3,500, and to help the fire department serve the eleven high-rise dormitories on campus. Noted the story, Boone was now only the seventh city in the state with a tiller truck. 

Here’s a watermarked stock photo of the truck, along with the newspaper story. Click to enlarge: