Dateline: Dec. 31, 2025

Historic School Bus Has a New Home

REO Speedwagon settled into its new home (New Year's Eve)

In November, Allenstown's first school bus, the 1925 REO Speedwagon, and its garage were relocated to a new asphalt pad in front of the New Town Hall on Main St. John Thomas Hayes had bought the new truck to transport children along Podunk Rd. and Deerfield Rd. to school at the School Street building which is the current town hall.

Since the town was already renovating the old elementary school (AES), it was decided that the Speedwagon should take its place of honor on the grounds of the New Town Hall.

The relocation was a project of the Allenstown Historical Society. The Society was very thankful to the Allenstown Highway Dept., Jeff Fleury and Advanced Excavating and Paving, Granite State Glass, Vachon Electrical Services, and members of the Allenstown Historical Society for their help in completing this project.

Historical Society President Armand Verville gives this amazing account of how this project was completed with the gracious and magnanimous blessings of town personnel and local vendors.

"I loaded the Speedwagon onto a trailer and stored it at my house under tarp while the garage was vulnerable. Road Agent Chad Pelissier and I removed the lag bolts from the garage sills. Advanced Excavating moved the garage to its new site."

"Granite State Glass of Concord offered to remove the glass, stored it until the move was done, and then re-installed the windows for $1,000.00. They then donated their labor so our cost was $0. "

"A lot of the site preparation was done by the Allenstown Highway Dept. in conjunction with the new parking area for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector."

"Advanced Excavating & Paving did the final prep work for the asphalt pad. Advanced donated the 12 tons of asphalt needed and all the labor for the pad, which had an estimated value was $4,000.00."

When Armand was asked why 12 tons, he explained it this way. "The pad site was excavated about 8 to 10 inches deep for about two to three feet wide on all four sides. The center flat surface was 3 to 4 inches deep. I have a copy of the weight ticket from the vendor, that being 12.03 tons or 24,065 lbs. "

"The members of the Historical Society dug the trench for the electrical cable. We also drove bolts I made to attach the garage to the asphalt pad.

"Mike Vachon of Vachon Electrical Services wired up the garage and donated some of his time and a new timer for the REO.

"Jeff Fleury from Advanced Excavating and Chad and Ryan Pelissier of the Highway Department made the move happen. Everyone worked together like a well-oiled machine. It was a sight to see all the way."

Speedwagon Garage at Town Hall, October 27

After the site prep at the New Town Hall was done, the Advanced Excavating crew began building the asphalt pad.

Pouring the asphalt pad

Raking and smoothing the asphalt

Rolling and packing down the asphalt pad

After the new pad was completed, the moving crew arrived at Town Hall and loaded the garage onto a trailer.

Garage ready to move

The next two short videos show the Advanced Excavating truck towing the garage away from Town Hall. The second video shows the garage being towed down School Street.

Backing the garage onto the new pad

Garage almost completely onto the new pad

Garage finally positioned

What You Can Do

Stop and visit the REO Speedwagon's new home, now celebrating its 100th year since John Thomas Hayes bought it.

Recall this story and marvel at the fact that this project was completed at minimal cost due to the generosity of local businesses like Advanced Excavating & Paving, Granite State Glass, and Vachon Electrical Services, as well as the contributions of the Allenstown Highway Dept. and the Allenstown Historical Society.

First two photos by Michael Frascinella
All other photos and movies courtesy of Armand Verville