Tolland Fire Dept. Surprised With Package Containing Artifact

TOLLAND, CT — Tolland Public Safety Director John Littell had quite the surprise earlier this week, when a package containing an artifact from years past showed up at his office.

The package was sent without warning from the Helmetta Volunter Fire Department, specifically Richard Twomey, who is associated with the department in the borough of less than 2,000 people in central New Jersey. In it was a vehicle assembly featuring an old blue-with-white-letters Connecticut license plate stamped 1959, a Tolland Fire Department marker plate and a two-bulb light bar.

"So with all the bad things going on out there — and we are all going crazy — there are some great people that do things that happen to make others' days Great and bring smiles," Littell said. "I came in (Tuesday) to my office and found this box addressed to Tolland Fire. After opening it and finding a letter inside ... what a wonderful surprise to us."

In the letter, Twomey explained the rig was located in a barn on the south shore of Long Island. It was "encrusted in dirt, the lights were rusted," and the TFD plate was "unreadable," he wrote.

The rack was disassembled and cleaned and the marker plate was refinshed and sanded, Twomey wrote. He then put everything back together and sent it to Tolland.

Twomey said he restores artifacts for departments all over the East Coast.

"We will treasure this piece and place in the cabinet where other antique items are located so others are able to view it," Littell said.