NEWS/EVENTS
2026 Schedule of Events
Note: These are not all AREC or SPAAMFAA sponsored events. Many are events we have been invited to or are events members have attended in the past.
- June 27th, 2026, Saturday, Hill NH Old Home Day Celebration, Parade line up 10:30, Commerce Street.
- June 27th –28th 2026 Owls Head Maine, First responder event at OHTM. Looking for restored fire trucks, ambulances for our new event at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. Come showcase your hard work, sign up to demonstrate your truck and check out like-minded people!
- 11 July 2026 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PA Pump Primers 50th Annual Antique Fire Apparatus Show, Muster & Flea Market. Riverfront Park
August 22nd & 23rd 2026, Granite State Chapter Old Truck Meet, Barrington NH
- August 26-29 Marlborough, Mass. Massachusetts Antique Fire Apparatus Assoc. (MAFAA) SPAAMFAA Summer Convention in 2026.
- Sept 27th, 2026, Saturday Wings & Wheels 2026 Concord NH, Concord Municipal Airport
- October 3rd 2026, Saturday AREC Annual Fire Truck Parade, Show & Muster.
James H. Miller August 18, 1949 – July 4, 2026
James H. Miller passed away at the age of 76 on Saturday the 4th of July in Concord, NH, the community he served diligently for 52 years. Jim was a firefighter with the Concord Fire Department for 27 years from 1972 to 1999, and a bus driver for the Concord School District for 31 years from 1993 to 2024. When not serving the community, Jim enjoyed long daily chats over coffee with friends, camping trips with the family, and tinkering on vehicles new and old in the garage.
Jim grew up an only child living with his parents near downtown Keene, NH and graduated from Keene High School in 1967. He later attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston before returning to NH to attend UNH in Durham and continue on into EMS and fire service.
Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Deborah, who took care of him through his recent battle with cancer. He is also survived by their family: Kyra Miller, Krystal Miller, Caroline Miller, Craig Grabowski, Marie Grabowski, Adrianne Grabowski, Lori Summers and Kellan Cartledge. Jim is predeceased by wife Sharon and parents Harry and Annie Miller of Keene, NH.
He will be missed by many good friends from Concord Fire, Concord School District, Durham Ambulance Corps, Contoocook Valley Radio Club, Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors, Amoskeag Reserve Engine Company and the counter at Heights Dunkin’ Donuts.
Visitation will be held Saturday the 1st of August from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N Main Street, Concord, NH. Procession will follow to Blossom Hill Cemetery, 207 N State Street, Concord, NH for a graveside memorial at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Jim’s name made out to: Concord Firefighters Relief Association 150 N State Street, Concord, NH 03301
C Peter James, January 15, 1943 - December 10, 2025
AREC President James Topham and the AREC Board of Directors is saddened to learn of and announce the recent passing of C. Peter James (January 15, 1943 – December 10, 2025) Peter was a founding member of the Amoskeag Reserve Engine Company.
He and Verna, his wife of 60 years lived in Barnstead for 37 years in a beautiful log home they built together themselves. He was an active member of Barnstead Fire-Rescue for 34 years. After leaving Barnstead they made their home in Grantham NH.
For many years he collected antique John Deere tractors and antique fire trucks and was a founding member of the Amoskeag Reserve Engine Company the New Hampshire Chapter of SPAAMFAA (The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America), serving as president for some time.
A Celebration of Life will be held on January 10, 2026 at the Grantham Town Hall at 300 Route 10 South, Grantham, NH. A calling hour will begin at 10, followed by the service at 11 during which anyone wanting to share a story will have an opportunity to speak. More stories can be shared afterwards during a luncheon.
Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Vera, family and friends.
Amoskeag Reserve Engine Company purchases an enclosed trailer.
We have purchased 2017 4×6 enclosed Anvil trailer in excellent condition. This is a one owner well maintained, always stored under cover trailer. Undercoated EZ Lube Hubs 13″ Radial Tires 3″ Tubular Main Frame and came with a spare tire. Did we mention its already red. The family we bought it from were happy that it was going to a good home because their father took very good care of it.
The trailer will allow us to keep AREC owned items such as tables, chairs, banners, shirts and other items in the same location while allowing us to attend more events with the ability to set up and sell AREC merchandise.
