Crime & Safety

Anonymous Donor Supplies Norton FD With State-of-the-Art Stretcher

A Norton resident donated $15,000 for a new stretcher.

They're calling it "The Raymond."

Norton Firefighters presented their newest piece of equipment to selectmen Thursday night - a state-of-the-art, 700 pound capacity stretcher, with all of the bells and whistles.

"We’re just ecited as all get-out," Norton Fire Chief Paul J. Schleicher told selectmen.

The stretcher is named after the late husband of an annonymous donor, who "enthusiastically" put up the cash for the fire department.

The stretcher's market price ranged from $17,000 - $18,000. After trading in an old stretcher, the Norton Fire Dept. purchased "The Raymond" for $15,000 thanks to the donor's generosity.

Schleicher said the donor wanted to help the fire department because of positive experiences she and her husband had been through with rescue workers.

"She wanted to remain anonymous," Schleicher said. "We’re keeping her wishes although we’ve certainly paid her thanks and accolades."

Firefighters said they desperately needed a new stretcher. The donation of "The Raymond" will pave the way for a second stretcher that was funded at Town Meeting last month.

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"She touched me, honestly," Deputy Fire Chief Dave Myles said. "She camein and she had something specific she wanted to do specifically for the EMS division."

"When she came up with the dollar amount, I was personally floored – it couldn’t’ have happened at a better time."

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