Marsh Creek ? Ambulance Patch

[Jay Carollo]

As I sift through a long forgotten box found in a closet, I ran across many black & white photos of ambulances and this patch. Not sure where Marsh Creek is - I'm guessing I've had this stuff stored away for almost 30 years. The ambulance looks to be a Superior-maybe one of the first downsized models?

Maybe one of you know about this service or what happened to the ambulance. :confused:

[Paul Steinberg]

Marsh Creek is in Alaska, and my 1978 Superior came from Alaska. Mine was all white, so I know it isn't the same one. I searched there website for historical pictures, but there were none.

[Roger D White]

Tom Parkinson made this patch, inserting on it my 1979 Superior Cadillac. I'm not sure if a Marsh Creek existed or if this was Tom's fantasy because of my new Cad. I can ask him that since I am in contact with him. I think I still have some of these patches.

Roger D White

[Richard Vyse]

Neat patch. Are there people who can make these using our own ambulances?

Ricahrd

[Steve Lichtman]

My father collects patches and has this in his collection. He says it's from Contra Costa County, CA and that it's a real service. (Roger, if you find out differently, please let me know so I can pass that on to dad.)

Any local embroidery shop can make an embroidered logo (to put on shirts or hats) from a photo. Also, there are plenty of companies that make actual patches. You could ask around with local fire departments or police departments to see who they order patches from. One place we use locally in MD is Commercial Emblem (http://www.commercialemblem.com/products/emblems.cfm). They make the custom patches for our First Aid Unit, and for many of the Federal law enforcement agencies in the DC area. They don't just deal with government agencies, anyone can order patches. Eagle Emblem (http://eagleemblems.com) is another company that makes patches. Obviously, the patch companies make them in quantity, not as singles, but if you want a bunch, it can be done.

[Robert Shepard]

My father collects patches and has this in his collection. He says it's from Contra Costa County, CA and that it's a real service. (Roger, if you find out differently, please let me know so I can pass that on to dad.)

I live in Contra Costa County and have never heard of Marsh Creek. I checked with a local man who worked ambulance here in the 60's and 70's, and he said no such service existed.

[Richard Vyse]

Any local embroidery shop can make an embroidered logo (to put on shirts or hats) from a photo.

Thanks

Richard

[Steve Lichtman]

I live in Contra Costa County and have never heard of Marsh Creek. I checked with a local man who worked ambulance here in the 60's and 70's, and he said no such service existed.Thanks, I'll pass it on to dad.

[Jay Carollo]

The Parkinson name rings a bell as whom this might have come from along with the galut of ambulance photos....after 30+ years I just don't know!

[Roger D White]

Tom now lives in virtual isolation in Redfield AK. He had a large collection of ambulance photos and when his interest waned he passed them on to me.
He did live in Contra Costa County CA, Steve, so it adds up. I will ask him when I speak with him next time.

[Roger D White]

Tom Parkinson confirmed with me that this patch was designed by him. Marsh Creek was a remote area in Contra Costa County. Tom and others tried to set up a volunteer ambulance service there and that is why Tom designed the patch. The idea was opposed by an existing ambulance service so it never came to be. Thus the patch became history.

[Steve Lichtman]

OK, thanks Roger. I'll pass that on to Dad!

[Derrick Walden]

Did Tom Parkinson ever work for Bay Area Ambulance Service back in the day ? Just curious because I grew up in Pacifica where Bay Area had a station in Pacific Manor . I remember those green rigs but my favorite was the orange and white '73 Dodge low top Type II unit with the LOUD siren . OBTW , when was that photo taken ? I heard that Bay Area didn't last long after Medevac took over San Mateo County's EMS system in late 1976 .

[Robert Davidson]

used to be a Marsh Creek raceway in Pennsylvania,, maybe was a village there or was a raceway patch

[Kent Rogne]

It's for real..Marsh creek is south ofConcord, Calif. Tom Parkinson worked
with me at a few Ambulance services in that area and we covered Marsh creek where Tom Lived for a long time. Marsh Creek is "actually" Clayton, Calif to be exact. He had the patches made and for the local volunteer fire dept there, although the ambulance displayed on the patch belonged to Michael's Ambulance service for a very short period of time, it never was placed in service in Clayton or Marsh Creek which was a town of about 60 people. Michael's Ambulance was responsible for that zone although. Hope it's a bit clearer? Hmm?:D

[Roger D White]

For the record, the ambulance on the patch was the 1979 Superior-on-Cadillac transport ambulance I owned, and is now owned by Dr David Richards.
Tom Parkinson had this patch specially designed and manufactured in honor of the 1979 Cadillac by Superior.

Roger D White MD

[Mike Stevens]

I went to Google and asked for Marsh Creek. It says there is a Marsh Creek Park in Pennsylvania. There is a Marsh Creek LLC civil engineering firm in Califonia.
Mmike

[Roger D White]

This is (or was, I should have asked Tom that) a little town in CA. They attempted to set up a volunteer ambulance service there and bought a 1968 Superior Cadillac from Piner Ambulance Service in Napa. The enterprise never developed because of big-time resistance from private operators who serviced the Marsh Creek community. Tom was interested in helping them develop but it never happened. He commenorated Marsh Creek by putting my 1979 Superior Cadillac on the patch becuse it was the last one.

So that's the story on the Marsh Creek patch.

Dr Roger D White