What some might see as rust, dust and worn out machinery, Lincoln County’s own Dylan Mc-Cool sees as opportunity. With a YouTube following of more than 640,000 subscribers, McCool has built a national reputation for rescuing forgotten cars, trucks and what he jokingly calls “plenty of junk.” But to him, every abandoned machine carries a story worth saving.

Through nearly 400 videos, McCool has documented the process of finding vehicles tucked away in fields, barns and overgrown lots, then methodically bringing them back to life.

Now, that passion has found its way to Fayetteville. Through a partnership with the Fayetteville- Lincoln County Museum and the Fayetteville Fire Department, McCool has taken on one of the community’s most recognizable historic artifacts: a 1953 Mack fire truck affectionately known as “Maude.”

For decades, Maude served the citizens of Fayetteville, responding to emergencies from the old fire station on what many locals still remember as Fire Hall Hill. Photographs from the 1950s show the truck sitting proudly in front of the station alongside the firefighters who operated it which you can see in McCool’s You-Tube video. https://youtu. be/ 8qYztsYAEjY? si=SFqWlKSQW6Ix5IcH After being retired from service in the mid-1990s, the truck sat largely untouched. In recent years, it rested behind the museum in a chain-link enclosure, weathered, faded and uncertain if it would ever run again.

That changed when the City of Fayetteville offi cially transferred ownership of the truck to the museum, opening the door for restoration and renewed public display. Reviving a 70-year-old fire truck is no small task, and early efforts quickly revealed just how complex the project would be. From the start, McCool and his team faced mechanical hurdles getting the starter to engage, restoring ignition across a unique dual-distributor system and ensuring fuel could properly reach the carburetor after decades of sitting idle.

Even the basics proved demanding. The truck’s massive cooling system requires approximately 15 gallons of water just to function, underscoring the sheer scale of mid-century fire equipment. “There’s a lot going on with this truck,” McCool said during the process. “It’s bigger, heavier and more complex than most of what we usually work on.”

Despite the challenges, persistence paid off. After troubleshooting ignition issues, repairing the starter and carefully priming the fuel system, the moment finally arrived. With the turn of a switch and a burst of effort, Maude’s massive six-cylinder engine came to life, filling the air with the unmistakable rumble of a machine that hadn’t run in decades. “I cannot believe this thing’s running,” Mc-Cool said, celebrating with his assistant, Briar Corder, as the engine settled into a steady idle.

The excitement didn’t stop there. Soon after, the truck made its first short drive, rolling under its own power for the first time in nearly 30 years. Though the brakes still require attention and the tires show their age with flat spots from years of sitting, the sight of the historic fire truck moving once again marked a major milestone.

The restoration effort has become more than a mechanical project, it has grown into a community moment. Members of the Fayetteville Fire Department have played an active role, assisting with cleaning and preparing the truck while sharing stories and memories tied to its years of service. For many, seeing Maude come back to life has been both sentimental and emotional.

The truck was driven to the current fire station, symbolically connecting past and present generations of firefighters. While the initial goal of getting Maude running has been achieved, much work remains.

A full restoration will involve addressing the braking system, cooling components, electrical systems and cosmetic details. Finding parts for a vehicle of this age presents its own challenges, often requiring custom solutions or careful sourcing of vintage components.

Still, the vision is clear. When complete, Maude is expected to serve as both a museum centerpiece and a community attraction appearing in parades, special events and educational displays. There is hope that one day it could roll through Fayetteville’s Christmas parade, possibly carrying Santa Claus.

Projects like this go beyond mechanical restoration. They preserve the stories, craftsmanship and community heritage tied to vehicles that once served a vital role. For younger generations, Maude offers a tangible connection to the past with a chance to see, hear and experience history in motion.

For McCool, that’s what makes the effort worthwhile. “This isn’t just about fixing a truck,” he said. “It’s about bringing something back that mattered to people.” As Maude continues its journey from forgotten antique to a restored icon, one thing is certain: Fayetteville’s history is no longer sitting still, it’s rolling forward once again.