By Zachary Weiand
The Bismarck Tribune
BISMARCK, N.D. — Bismarck has purchased a storied piece of its firefighting history — a nearly 100-year-old fire truck — bringing back the engine after decades of it being in private ownership.
The truck, a 1926 Seagrave fire engine, was the second ever owned by the city. It joined the fleet in 1926, and after four decades of service, it was retired in the 1960s before being sold at a city surplus auction in 1988.
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Owners Jan and Jim Beck recently agreed to sell the truck back to the city, accepting a $25,000 offer for the vintage apparatus. The city will pay for the vehicle from the Special Commission Projects line item in the general fund, dedicated to unplanned projects, according to city spokesperson Kalen Ost.
“For decades, it played a key role in protecting our citizens. It’s living history, not just a photo or a story,” City Commissioner John Risch said. “We want to have it out in the community, especially in 2026 when it turns 100 years old.”
The opportunity to buy the truck arose over the summer, when City Administrator Jason Tomanek — a known Bismarck history enthusiast — learned of the truck’s existence and was invited by the Beck family to see it. After viewing the truck, Tomanek told the Becks the city would be interested in purchasing it if it ever became available.
“As we were putting the tarp back on it and kind of buttoning it all up and getting ready to shut the garage door again, I smiled to Mr. Beck, and I said, ‘If this thing is ever for sale, I’m asking on behalf of the city of Bismarck, I would appreciate you letting me know,’” Tomanek said. “And he smiled, and he said, ‘Well, it’s for sale right now.’”
The apparatus has a storied history in Bismarck. It arrived in December 1926 after being purchased by the city for $12,500 — equivalent to about $226,800 today — and responded to its first fire on March 22, 1927.
The Seagrave was the lone unit on scene when the old North Dakota Capitol burned down on Dec. 28, 1930. The city’s only other engine at the time had gotten stuck and needed to be towed to the fire.
After its retirement in the 1960s, the truck sat idle at the city’s Public Works building. Tomanek said the city eventually ran out of space to store it, and it was sold to the Becks at auction in 1988.
The Beck family kept the truck in good condition over the years, often driving it in Fourth of July parades. But it had been sitting in storage for about three years before the sale back to the city.
After the purchase, firefighters and Public Works staff loaded the Seagrave onto a trailer and transported it to the city’s Public Works facility, where mechanics will work to make sure it is safe to drive again. Public Works Director Steve Salwei said this work will include checking fluid levels, the tires, brakes and transmission to make sure everything is roadworthy. Mechanics will work on the truck when they have downtime.
Salwei said working on the truck will be a learning curve since staff have never worked on something vintage, but the department is excited to be involved in the project.
”It’s a part of history, and you’re bringing history back home, so it’s something our mechanics take pride in,” he said.
Bismarck Fire Chief Joel Boespflug said the department is honored to have a piece of its history back. He said the truck helps the department appreciate the equipment firefighters had a century ago compared to today.
For example, the Seagrave did not have the ability to carry water, so it pumped from a hydrant at 750 gallons per minute. Today’s fire engines can carry water and pump 2,000 gallons per minute.
”It’s a recognition of the past and it’s a recognition of those who have served as firefighters,” he said.
City officials in the short term are considering housing the truck at Fire Station 2 on East Bismarck Expressway, where glass panels could be installed to allow public viewing. Long term, city leaders hope to find a permanent way to display the Seagrave and feature it in community events — including parades — as it nears its 100th anniversary in 2026.
”It’s a working fire truck. It has battle scars, it has patina, but it is also a wonderful piece of Bismarck history,” Tomanek said.
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