It was a complete coincidence that The Tribune decided to publish a photo of San Marino resident Mary Haltom and her family pictured aboard Old No. 1 at this year’s Fourth of July parade and a photo of San Marino Rotarians riding Old No. 1 in the 1966 Fourth of July parade.
It turns out that Haltom’s father, Al Hodges—one-time owner of Old No. 1, San Marino’s first fire engine—was pictured driving the vehicle in that 1966 photo, which ran on the front page of The Tribune’s 1966 Independence Day issue.
“At first I didn’t recognize him,” said Mary Haltom. “I showed the photo to my husband, Frank, and he said, ‘Mary, that is your dad driving Old No. 1.’”
Mary confirmed the identity of the man behind the wheel—wearing a hat as he usually did—when she put on her “better glasses.”
“He had an accident as a young boy and his right hand was not right, so I could see that also to confirm,” said Haltom. “Again, with good glasses,” she joked.
Hodges bought the fire engine from the San Marino Fire Department in 1957. The department sold the engine in an effort to raise funds to purchase new equipment. Old No. 1 visited birthday parties, weddings and family celebrations for 18 years. Mary and her dad also cruised the engine around town.
“We had such good memories with Old No. 1—driving through town and to what was the Huntington Hotel, now the Langham,” Haltom recalls.
In 1971, Hodges suggested that the newly-founded San Marino Historical Society ride Old No. 1 in the 1976 Fourth of July Parade in celebration of America’s Bicentennial.
Hodges passed away the following year, but his wish was kept alive by his daughter.
Mary donated Old No. 1 to the City of San Marino that year, and with an outpouring of
community support, the engine was restored to mint condition in time for the 1976 parade.
That year, the honor of riding Old No. 1 went to the Haltom family.
The Tribune hopes that 50 years from now there will be 50 more wonderful Fourth of July memories to share that involve Old No. 1.
The Tribune thanks Mary Haltom for sharing her story.
