Dillsboro Fire & Rescue History

Dillsboro Volunteer Fire Department

Serving the Town of Dillsboro and Clay Township

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HISTORY

Early Firefighting in Dillsboro was not a very well organized operation. Mostly by bucket brigades formed by those citizens present on occasion of a fire in the town.

The Citizens of the community have always been progressive, and in 1888 a small pumper was purchased by the town. This little machine was pulled by manpower and the pump was also operated by volunteers that were present. This little pumper is still in existence and a real antique.

With the coming of the horseless carriage, and the advent of motorized Fire Equipment a Fire Pumper was purchased in the early 1920's. The chassis was a 1919 Dodge with a pump mounted midship. Among those on the roster at that time, we have been able to list the following:

A.P. Gerster H.C. Daniels Leroy Graver Jack Kessler

James B. (Jimmy) Roberts Henry Kamping Herbert Wildey Francis Calhoun

These men certainly were worthy of the admiration and gratefulness of the community, for their donation of their time and efforts for the good of all. They continued to be the protectors of the community until the early 1930's.

In early 1934 an effort was made to get a revised and enlarged group of younger citizens interested in organizing for the protection of the community.

From dates on applications for membership to be appointed by the town board the new group was organized about March 1934, and was named the Dillsboro Volunteer Fire Department. Among those having signed applications for membership under the date of February 19, 1934 were the following:

George Dennis Francis Calhoun Albert H Mathias Leroy Graver Howard Meyer

James Heitmeyer Fred W Baker Herbert Wildey Harry Clifford Daniels Martin Bosse

There are others whose names are not in the files and whose names are forgotten. The names of others whose applications are dated from October 12, 1936 to April 1, 1957 are the following:

Charles E Gerkepott Ralph Cutter Clyde Baker Reynold Lanvermeyer John R Steuver Harold Moeller Walter L Jewett

Robert Cutter Everett Westmeyer Raymond Graver James Fischer Donald Ulrich Dale Long Howard Bosse

Earl Wafford Lloyd Rullman Keith Minger Albert Ohlmansiek Jr Charles Brett Raymond "Nig" Miller Clifford Moeller

Donald Graver Edward Rueter Herbert Steuver Robert F Hamm Louis Klinkerman Norman Holtegel Robert Heitmeyer

David Graver William Beard Lawrence Kieniger

There are many other whose names are not remembered and who deserve the same recognition.

Click here to see our Personnel Page.

The 1919 Dodge Pumper was used for two years after reorganizing in 1934. A new 1936 Chevrolet Howe Pumper was purchased by the town in 1936, and is still owned by the department and used in parades. In 1952 Dodge Howe Pumper was purchased jointly by the Town of Dillsboro and Clay Township. In 1961 the department purchased a used panel truck to carry equipment not easily carried on the pumpers. In 1965 the used panel truck was replaced with a newer used panel truck. In 1969 a Ford Howe Pumper was purchased. In 1971 an Army Surplus Truck was received from Army Surplus on lease and was converted to a Water Tanker. In 1974 a new panel truck was purchased.

The Old School House was built in 1905 and later used for the Town Hall and Fire House. In 1973 a new building was constructed on the site of the Old School House. The new building served the community as the Town Hall, Utility Office, Fire Station, and also housed the Dillsboro Emergency Unit. A Dedication Ceremony was held on July 6th, 1974. Click here to download the Dedication Ceremony Program.

In early 1980 a 4x4 Chevy Truck was purchased by the department and converted into a brush truck. Many hours of work went into this project by the firemen. The next project was converting a Ford Semi-Tractor, donated to the department by Schenley Distillery in Lawrenceburg, into an updated water tanker. The tanker had side compartments, a small pump for loading and unloading water and also for fighting small fires. The tanker carried a dump tank and was able to dump 1750 gallons of water in less than a minute. In 1987 a 1984 Chevy Step Van was converted to replace the smaller 1974 van. The newer van was set up with side compartments, a breathing air cascade system for refilling air bottles at the fire scene, and had room for 4 fire fighters to don their scba while enroute to a fire.

On March 2, 1993 the department took delivery of a 1993 KME 1500 GPM Custom Engine. The engine has a crew cab capable of transporting 6 firefighters. The engine has a top mount pump, deck gun, and a hydraulic ladder rack. September 16, 1998 the department took delivery of a 1998 Ford E-One 1800 gallon tanker with a 350 GPM pto pump and a new 2000 gallon dump tank.