29.15.3

Print, Photographic

1927 "Reo" Waseca Fire truck. Material: paper. Size: 12" x 20". Description: color photographic reprint of the oil painting of the 1927 "Reo" Waseca Fire Truck; artist: Plasschaert. Plasschaert's "First Motorized Waseca Firetruck"; 1925 Red Reo firetruck, the first motorized firetruck to be used by the Waseca Fire Department; by Richard Plasschaert, southern Minnesota wildlife artist; signed in lower right corner: "Plasschaert".

The Bathke family resided in Waseca at 803 North State Street and later at 606 North State Street from 1935-1997. Alma Bathke contracted with Waseca artist, Richard Plasschaert for this project as a tribute to her husband Dutch's many years of service with the fire department. The oil painting was completed in 1975. L.W. "Dutch" Bathke joined the Waseca Fire Department 27 December 1933 as a volunteer fire fighter. May of 1960 he resigned from active volunteer service and became the truck driver/engineer for the department. He retired September 1974.