$75K Grant Awarded for Fire Truck 'Geraldine'

A $75,000 historic preservation grant was awarded by the Morris County Freeholders Wednesday to help buy a fire truck named "Geraldine" that's a piece of Madison's history.

The freeholders approved Madison’s request for the grant to help purchase a 1921 Ahrens Fox P4 fire truck that originally was donated to the borough by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge in 1921, but eventually wound up with a private owner out of state, according to an announcement from the county.

The grants were approved based on the recommendation of the county’s Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board.

The Friends of Geraldine, a group of individuals raising money to buy the truck, created a video about the truck and the $150,000 fundraising effort

In the video, Fire Chief Lou DeRosa, Mayor Bob Conley, former Mayor Mary-Anna Holden, fire truck expert Pete Eisele and former Madison Fire Chief William Prentiss discuss the historic value of the truck, which was donated by Dodge after a fire destroyed several barns on her borough estate.

Of the 26 grants approved by the freeholders Wednesday, half were for construction or restoration projects. The largest construction grant, $293,810, was awarded to the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown to assist in the restoration of the Parish House, the announcement said.

For more information about Geraldine visit www.BringGeraldineHome.com and see the video on YouTube.