History of the Woodville Township Volunteer Fire Department

From pictures we have found, records of the Village Council, and talking to older citizens, we have learned that in the mid-eighteen hundreds the Village owned a hand pumper, ladder wagon, and a hose cart. This equipment was operated by a group of citizens known as the Woodville Hook and Ladder Company. Wm. M. Fletcher was chief of this group of men. Council records show that August 3, 1888, this group of men turned the fire equipment over to the Village Council.

June 6, 1888, a delegation of Citizens was sent to Chicago to look at hand operated fire engines. The delegation consisted of Ben Emch, R. Hartman, and H. Rancamp.

July 11, 1888, the Village purchased a 24' X 26' lot from M. Faist for the site of a new town hall and fire station. The present town hall now sits on this site. On September 5, 1888, a Jay Faler submitted a bid of $2,061.96 to build the building. January 19, 1889, the building was completed and accepted by Village Council. This building served the community well until 1970 when it was tom down to make room for the new town hall and fire station.

During 1888 and 1889, ten fire cisterns were built in various parts of town. These and the river were the source of water for the fire pumper and engine to draft from when there was a fire. The cisterns served until 1928 when the water system with hydrants was built.

May 2, 1894, a 30" brass bell was purchased by Village Council for the purpose of summoning firemen when there was a fire. The bell was mounted above the town hall and also was used to call council members together for meetings. In later years it was used as a curfew warning. The bell was moved and placed on a brick base in front of the town hall and was rededicated June 14, 1986.

September 12, 1894, a No. 3 hose cart was purchased for the fire department by the Village Council.

January 29, 1896, a down payment of $1200 was made to the American Fire Engine Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, for a new 500 G.P.M. horse-drawn steam pumper. September 4, 1886, the second payment of $669.182 was made and March 19, 1887, the last payment of $636.30 was made. R. M. Durbin was Mayor and Wm. Bruns, Clerk at the time. This steam pumper served the Village well until a patriotic Mayor and Village Council donated it to the scrap drive during World War II in 1944.

On February 7, 1896, a Citizen's meeting was called for the purpose organizing a fire company. John Keil was appointed to solicit for members. A committee of five was appointed to draft up bylaws and regulations for the new fire company. The committee was chaired by Wm. Bruns and was to report back to a meeting scheduled for February 13, 1896. At this meeting, the report of John Keil was accepted and he was ordered to continue to solicit for members. At this same meeting the committee on bylaws and regulations was accepted. The second and fourth Wednesdays were set as meeting nights. The company was to be known as Woodville Fire Company No. I .

February 19, 1896, a meeting of the Company was called for the purpose of electing officers. Win. M. Fletcher, Chief; Tom Crawford, 1^st Engineer; Chas. Keil,

2^nd Engineer; John Englehart, 1^st Fireman; A. Win. Myers, 2^nd Fireman; Still Sivals, Hook and Ladder; and Chas. Rohtert, Foreman of the House.

Except for the year 1896, no records of the activities of this fire company can be located.

January 16, 1928, a group of thirty citizens met with Village Council to reorganize the fire department. One week later the following is recorded in the records of the Woodville Volunteer Fire Department. After the constitution and bylaws were adopted, the department elected the following officers: A. G. Linkey, President; I. G. Hoesman, Chief; Rudy Sandwish, Secretary; and Paul Sandwisch, Treasurer.

The department was then chartered by the Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Fireman Associations and has been one of the most progressive and active departments of the Association.

Below is a list of the Chartered Members:

FW. Weber, WM. Kruse, Erwin J. Nesper, Carl Hansen, Christ Rieman, Dan Bittinger, M.C. Schnoor, Luther Miller, John Ohemke, Norman Raberg, Geo. Hartman, Arthur Emch, R.H. Sandwisch, Erwin Kaemming, Roy Heineman, Olin Ross, Edward Spada, Louis Ross, Emery Riemer, Arthur Keil, Carl Emch, Norman Schepman, J.B. Day, E.W. Nieman, Clarence, Stein, Howard De Muth, Elmer Tucker, Arthur Stein, Harry Karchner, WM. Molkenbur, I.G. Hoesman, Farland, Keil, Russell Hardy, L. Molkenbur, I.A. Taulker, Fred Taulker Perry Wendler, Paul Sandwisch, A.G. Linkey, Oscar Meyerholtz, Arthur Krueger, C. Heimerdinger, Al. Huntebrinker, Dale Shepman, Waldon Schepman, Clarencec Hummel, Leonard Meyer, H. Huntebrinker, Fred Unger, Chas. Rohtert.

Below are those listed as Added Membership in 1928:

Ray Blauser, Paul Kaemming, Kenneth Faist, Chas Dewyre, Joe Geisbuhler, Robert Taulker, Curtis Owen, F. Linke, Louis Ohm, Alvin Taulker, Warren Frazier, T.T. Dix, Fred H. Kneip, Earl Sheffer, EWW. Michel, WM. Dewyre, D. Frazier, Jack Emch, H.D. Berry, Walter Stein, Ray Wilkey, WM. Marks, B. Barnes, Elmer Wolf, Lorren Meyer, P.J. Schnoor, Pete Holcombe, Earnest Strauss, Eugene Sandwisch, Paul Ameling, Earl Geisbuhler, Pandil Nedelco, Jesse Brough, Ken Sitzenstock, Keith Langerman, Marcus Schnitker

In 1928, the Village purchased its first motorized piece of equipment, a 500 G.P.M. American LaFrance pumper for $7,050.00. This truck has been restored by the firemen to its original look.

April 26, 1937, the Woodville Township Trustees signed a contract with the Village of Woodville for fire protection in the township. The contract called for a fee of $300.00 per year for the service. Prior to the contract the firemen had to obtain permission from the Mayor before the equipment could be taken out of the Village. You can imagine what was happening while permission was being obtained.

In the early 1930's through the 1940's, the department crack drill team was winning many prizes and was invited to participate in many parades and homecomings in Northwest Ohio.

In 1945, the Firemen and Legion purchased from the Sandwisch heirs lots 266, 267, 268 and 270 along the river near the old foot bridge. Many hours were spent hauling the remains of the old saw mill and junk from the property. Weeds were cut and kept mowed and soon the property began to shape up as park. Firemen built two fireplaces from old paving brick from Main Street when the car tracks were taken out. The fireplaces were used until the swimming pool was built in 1967. The property was turned over to the village and has been developed into a very useful park by the park board. The swimming pool was built with contributions from citizens and industries of the area. Firemen donated many hours of labor during the construction of the pool.

In April 1948, Woodville Firemen had their blood typed and went to hospitals and gave blood to any one from the Woodville area that needed blood during operations. This service was provided before the Red Cross blood banks were in operation.

In 1949, the Township purchased a 500 G.P.M. pumper from the American Fire Apparatus Co. and the Village and the Township began sharing the cost of operating the fire department.

In 1950, the old fire station and town hall, built in 1888, was tom down and a new town hall and fire station was built on the same site.

In 1951, the firemen organized a rescue squad and with $4,800.00 of their own funds, purchased the first rescue truck. This was one of the first rescue squads in this area.

In 1956, the firemen contributed $ 1,000.00 to the Village toward the cost of a 750 G.P.M. American Pumper and $ 1,000.00 to the Township toward the purchase of a 500 G.P.M. pumper-tanker. These trucks are still in good condition and in service.

The village pumper cost was $15,459.80 and the cost of the Township pumper -tanker was $14,233.70.

In 1965, the Village and Township, with the help of the firemen, purchased a four-wheel drive International truck and built it into a grass and brush fighter. This truck proved very useful for search and rescue work during the big snowstorms.

In 1970, the Village and Township purchased a new custom-built Welsh rescue truck. This was one of the most modem and best rescue trucks in the area and is still in service. The firemen raised funds and purchased most of the equipment in the truck. The Jaws of Life rescue tool alone cost $6,500.00.

The Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary was organized in 1971. The ladies have raised funds and bought much equipment for the department. One of their first major purchases was the hose washer. They help the firemen in many other ways, such as bringing food and coffee to the scene of major fires, helping at the 4th of July celebrations and preparing meals for districts and county meetings. They also help at the monthly breakfasts.

In 1972, the citizens of Woodville and Woodville Township passed a levy to provide funds for the purchase of a 750 G.P.M. pumper-tanker from the American Fire Apparatus Co. of Battle Creek, Michigan. Recently, the pump in this truck was replaced with a 1,000 G.P.M. pump.

August 15, 1973, the Village Council and the Woodville Township Trustees signed a contract which provides that the Village house the fire department and the Township provide the operating funds for the department. This contract was recently renewed for three years.

In 1975, the County EMS was organized. Firemen worked with the County Commissioners and Village Officials. We were able to put one of the first units in service in Woodville. The truck and the Paramedics were housed in the old garage back of the town hall. The EMS operated out of these quarters until the new fire station and township hall was built. February 9, 1980, EM16 and the fire department moved into the new quarters. In October 1985, the County Commissioners decided to close the Woodville station.

In November, 1976, the voters of Woodville and Woodville Township passed a 2.6 mill levy for one year to provide funds for the purchase of a new 1,000 G.P.M. pumper-tanker. Bids were opened January 16, 1977, and the contract was awarded to the Pierce Mfg. Co. of Appleton, Wisconsin to build the truck. Cost of the truck was $65,820.00.

November 7, 1978, the voters of Woodville and Woodville Township approved a 2.9 mill levy that raised $385,000.00 to build a new fire station and township hall, on the property purchased from Florence Molkenbur, located just east of the Portage River Bridge. Bauer, Stark and Lashbrook were hired as architects and engineers and Robert A. Brossia as general contractor. Ground was broken April 25, 1979. The building was completed and firemen and equipment were moved in February 9, 1980. Dedication services were held at 2:00 p.m., March 23, 1980. Mr. Don Wolfe of the Toledo Blade was the guest speaker. Daniel Liskai, Emil Konesky and Arthur Sandwisch were Township Trustees; Robert Schutz, Township Clerk at this time. Firemen on the building committee were Assistant Chief, Robert Hathaway, Roger Lenke, Tom Obermyer and Mark Grove. Robert Taulker was Fire Chief. Firemen with the help of Richard Meyer, as advisor, did all the painting and decorating of the interior of the building.

The firemen have been able to have many fund raising projects since moving into the new building. Chicken B.B.Q. and the monthly pancake and sausage breakfasts have proven to be very good money makers. Firemen raise about 40% of the funds it takes to operate the department.

On January 14, 1978, the department celebrated its 50^th anniversary as a charter member of the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Firemen's Association with a dinner and program at Cronenwett Hall. Rev. John Blix Lind was the speaker. Service awards were presented to department members by President Larry Eschedor and to the Auxiliary members by President Joyce Russell. Comments were made by Major Robert Meyer and Chairman of the Trustees, Dan Liskai. Chief Robert Taulker gave a history of the department since it was organized January 17, 1928. Active charter members present were Waldon and Norman Schepman. Mr. John Sheffer of Gibsonburg who organized the department 50 years ago was a guest and spoke briefly. Roger Lenke was chairman of the program committee.

Prior to the time the fire bell was placed on top of the town hall in 1894, there is no record as to how the firemen were called when there was a fire. In 1959, an electric siren was placed on top of the bell housing on the town hall. Telephone calls would come in to the central operator and she would set the siren off. The first fireman at the station would then call the operator and find out where the fire was. In 1961, fire phones were placed in three firemen's homes and the Standard Oil station were calls were received and the siren set off. In 1963, a base radio was installed at the fire station and radios placed in the rescue truck and all the fire trucks. In 1973, alerting plectrons were provided to each fireman for his home. At the present time, all the members have pagers and are alerted thru the Sandusky Co. Sheriff's Office via 9-1-1.

On November 16, 1985, the Woodville Township Volunteer Fire Department’s awards banquet was held at the United Methodist Fellowship Hall. A roast beef dinner with all the trimmings was served by members of the church. Music was furnish by the church ladies bell choir.

President Roger Lenke and assistant chief Ed Sternaman presented service pins and life membership cards to firemen with five years through fifty years of service. Guests present were the Ladies Auxiliary, Village and Township Officials, members of Life Squad 91, as well as citizens and representatives from area fire departments. Chief Taulker was recognized for his fifty years of service as a Woodville Volunteer fireman. He was presented many plaques and gifts from the Fire Department, Village of Woodville, Life Squad 91, American Legion and area departments. Chief's wife Sara was presented with an engraved locket.