SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A big crowd showed up in Venice Thursday morning for the opening of the Old Betsy Museum, celebrating a unique piece of the city’s history.

Old Betsy is a 1926 American LaFrance fire engine that became the city’s first fire truck. It was retired in 1959 but is still in parades and special events.

Today celebrated the opening of a museum where Old Betsy is the main attraction.

City officials and residents turned out for the ribbon-cutting, including Assistant City Manager James Clinch, Mayor Nick Pachota, City Manager Ed Lavallee, Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer, Willis Smith Construction Vice President Brett Raymaker, and Old Betsy’s dedicated caretakers Earl and Karen Midlam.

The program included a blessing from Pastor John Saxon of First Baptist

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