One family's donation helps get the injured to the hospital.
An ambulance for Fort Ethan Allen...

The First Vermont Infantry was celebrating at Fort Ethan Allen on this day in 1917. The cause of the celebration? The Infantry had just been given a brand new motorized ambulance, donated by the Proctor family.

This was the first ambulance powered by electric motor in the regiment. It weighed one and a half tons and had a 40 horsepower engine.

The cab of the ambulance was dark green with a dark brown canvas top to cover the patients in the back. Canvas was preferred to help keep patients cool during the summer. A red cross and the words, "Red Cross, First Vermont Infantry" were displayed on each side.

Image courtesy the Vermont Historical Society.

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