In Fairmount Park, across from the American Le-

gion Hall is an impressive monument to the city’s

participation in wartime production during World

War II. The concrete ramp coming out of Lake

Evans supports one of many Water Buffalo am-

phibious vehicles produced in Riverside for

nearly four years.

The Water Buffalo, or LVT (landing vehicle,

tracked), started as a response to the need for a

vehicle that could traverse the Florida Everglades

after hurricanes. Soon though, the U.S. Navy and

Marines became interested in it, and as war broke

out, ordered thousands for use in the Pacific cam-

paign.

The main contract for production went to the Food

Machinery Corp. FMC had a large plant in River-

side that had been making fruit packing equipment.

By spring 1942, though, the plant was being con-

verted for war production.

Initially, about 20 vehicles were made each month.

By war’s end, about 10 vehicles a day were leaving

the plant. Many of them were tested on Riverside’s

roads, and lots were taken through their paces in

Lake Evans in Fairmount Park.

On Nov. 2, 1949, Riverside’s Water Buffalo was

driven across Lake Evans and up onto the con-

crete platform made for it. For 75 years, the Wa-

ter Buffalo has been a part of Lake Evans and

Fairmount Park.