you know you’re an old h-r fireﬁ ghter . . . the firehouse scene · 2018-09-18 · when we’re...

the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

You Know you’re an old H-R Firefi ghter . . .

Who was well-known for saying (in his southern drawl) 7mo7tin8 over the radio?Who was nicknamed “Pipes”?What wild animal was used for years in the spring dinners?Who are the original two clowns at Station Three?Why did you dial 3-2341?Who still carries the nickname “Grumpy”?Who was fi rst paramedic for H-R?What retired Deputy Chief lays claim to the “3-minute barn burn”?Where was the original Station One located?What did a successful fund-raiser in the 70’s raise enough money for?Who donated the land that Station Three sits on?What was the name of the big horse stable that burned in the 50’s?What was the Green Weanie?What H-R Fire Chief was killed when his car was struck by a train in Rockton?What was Oscar’s “patented ditch maneuver”?Who was the fi rst female fi refi ghter on the department?What Fire Chief could simply press a button on his wall to set off the fi re siren?What was an old bread truck converted into?What was the “Thumper” used for?What Fire Chief was also the 1st Roscoe Village President?

Answers: 1. Tom McMullin Sr. 2. Terry Pitkus 3. Racoon 4. Mike Rallo & Rick Olson 5. To call the fi re department 6. Ike Schoonover 7. Oscar Presley 8. Richard Mackenthun 9. 10670 Main St. 10. A rescue unit 11. The A.J. Dwyer family 12. The Flying Dutchmen Stables 13. An old 4-wheel drive grass truck. 14. Cobby Rogers 15. Getting from Hwy 251 to the frontage road. 16. Joyce Graeff. 17. Ben Alexander 18. The fi rst rescue unit. 19. A machine that would do chest compressions. 20. Cobby Rogers.

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2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.

11.12.13.14.

15.16.17.

18.19.20.

Grandparents!

* A young grandson called his grandmother to wish her Happy Birthday. He asked her how old she was, and she told him, 62. Her grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”* After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she

heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?” A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.” The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fi refl ies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with fl ashlights.”A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. “Oh,” he said, “she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him!A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. “That’s interesting,” she said, “how do you make babies?” “It’s simple,” replied the girl. “You just change y to i and add es.”

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PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

The Firehouse Scene - 2www.harlemroscoefi re.com

April 2010 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Then & Now

Station #1 Station #2

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who had an opportunity to attend our annual dinner. The men and women of the fi re department did an outstanding job as usual.

This is a special time as well with the celebration of “70 years of service to our communities”. We will be using

the theme of “Then and Now” throughout this newsletter.

Sheryl has done an excellent job of research and layout to try and accomplish this. My hat is off to her for her due diligence while accomplishing this task. I would also like to thank those of you who contributed, whether it was with interviews or memorabilia, to make this a success.

The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District has come a long way since the days of its one fi re truck and oversized two-car garage that served as the downtown Main Street fi re station. This has been possible through commitment and dedication of its volunteer members and the support we receive from the community.

While the faces have changed over the years, the commitment by the men and women who put on their turnout gear at a moment’s notice hasn’t. It is a dedicated group of over 100 people when you include our administrative staff, chaplains, dispatchers, photographers, and fi re prevention bureau.

We have taken delivery of our new ambulance this past week. It is a Medtec ambulance on a Chevrolet 4500 chassis. This ambulance will replace one of the older ambulances in our fl eet.

We hope you fi nd this newsletter not only informative but a little humorous. Remember you can keep up to date on the progress of the department and the individuals by visiting our website, www.harlemroscoefi re.com. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District #1“70 Years of Service”

Filed April 4, 1940 . . . shall be deemed an organized fi re protection district under the statute in such case made and provided, and known as Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District #1 and that the results of the said election be spread upon the records of the court.

Highlights by Decades:

1940’s – Incorporated as a Fire Protection District, had 2-door fi re station located at 10670 Main St. in Roscoe, and had three Fire Chiefs, Harry Evans, John Kelly, & George McDonald.

1950’s – Addition built to fi re station, department had three trucks, Cobby Rogers became Fire Chief.

1960’s – Ben Alexander became Fire Chief and Inspection Bureau started.

1970’s – First paramedic in volunteer fi re department, fi rst rescue truck, fi rst volunteer department to purchase “Jaws of Life”, second fi re station built at 825 Ralston Road and pagers were added for notifi cation of volunteers.

1980’s – First true trauma units/ ambulances were purchased, three Fire Chiefs served -Chief Ben Alexander, Jack Brown, and Oscar Presley, bunker pants replace rubber hip boots, training division started, trucks now had closed cabs and riding on back of trucks was stopped, the Association’s Spring Coon & Ham Dinner had to drop the coon from its menu.

1990’s – Fire Station Three was built at 13974 Willowbrook Road, purchased thermal imaging cameras, fi rst aerial truck was purchased, Station One was moved to 10544 Main Street, a department web site was developed and a monthly newsletter began.

2000’s – Became an ambulance district, training burn tower and training facility addition, purchased three aerials including two Quints, preemptors installed, implemented a computer mapping and 24 hour in-house dispatching, Fire Chief Oscar Presley retired, Don Shoevlin became new Fire Chief, and advanced training directives were incorporated.

The Firehouse Scene - The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Birthdays

April1st Jeff Ball10th Colleen Bloyer12th Ami Sommerfi eld21st Jim Burdick24th Paul Stanphill29th Snoopy

May1st Dan Gunderson Erik Hansen3rd Christian Bush13th Josh Hoffl and15th Joe Ortiz16th Chuck Schoonover18th Judy Currier23rd Rob Lukowski31st Jordan Stark

May Breakfast List

Bob Stark, Eric Wainright,Steve Shoevlin, Neil Roe,

Mark Soppe, Josh Hoffl and,Ron Swain & Scott Jensen

Total Calls for 2010

535

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s web site after the second Sunday each month.

www.harlemroscoefi re.comE-mail submissions to: sdrost@harlemroscoefi re.com Harry Evans 40-44 John Kelly 1944 George McDonald 44-52 Cobby Rogers 52-65 Ben Alexander 65-81 Jack Brown 81-82 Oscar Presley 82-2007

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chiefs

2008 - current

HRFD Wins Chili Cook-off Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghter Tom & Ramona Lake won the chance to represent Harlem-Roscoe Fire at the RoRo Expo Chili Cook-off this year by fi rst winning the chili cook-off among H-R fi refi ghters. Harlem-Roscoe Fire then won the Chili Cook-off at the RoRo Expo. They were up against the Roscoe village and police as well as Rockton’s village, police, and fi re. RoRo Expo patrons would test all the chilis and then vote by placing money into that department’s bucket. Congratulations, Tom & Ramona!

Left, Firefi ghters Adam Arnould, Tom Person, Mickey Rykowski, and Christi Wilson watch as a patron “votes” for Harlem-Roscoe in the Chili Cook-off by placing money in their bucket. Right, Chief Don Shoevlin poses with winning cooks Tom and Ramona Lake. (It was Ramona’s grandma’s recipe that won)

Congratulations to Lt. Tom Aaker and his wife Amber on the birth of their second child. Thomas Michael Aaker Jr. arrived March 11 weighing in at 8lbs. 9oz. and 19in long. 18-month-old big sister, Piper, doesn’t seem to mind the crying now and showers him with hugs and kisses. It seems the fi rst night Tommy was home though, every time he would cry, she would. Tommy is also grandson to Capt. Mike Drost and Photographer Sheryl Drost, nephew to FF Jim Daughenbaugh, and cousin to FF Neil Roe. Congratulations again, Amber and Tom; he is adorable!

New Baby

Field Fires BeginStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

The fi eld fi res have begun! Left, Firefi ghters Paul Stanphill, Josh Hoffl and, and Rob Gonia work to put out a fi re in a cornfi eld off Joy Dr. started when a burn pile got out of control. Below, Capt. Mike Drost drives along the edge of the fi re in the minipumper spraying water from nozzles located below the bumpers.

Firefi ghters Steve Shoevlin, Joe Koeninger, and Greg Wernick quickly have another fi re under control, this time in a backyard off Wild Deer Trail.

Truck FirePhoto by Charlotte Alms

Firefi ghters Eric Schweitzer, Zak Prielipp, and Greg Wernick check for hot spots after extinguishing a truck engine fi re on March 16.

AccidentsPhotos by Charlotte Alms

Farewell to a former ChiefBy Sheryl Drost

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Jack Brown passed away on March 10.

Jack joined the department on August 23, 1953 and served 30 years, climbing the ranks to Chief. He served 18 years as Assistant Chief and became Chief in 1981 when Chief Ben Alexander retired. He resigned as Chief in 1982 after serving

less than a year due to other commitments. He still served a couple more years before retiring from the department in February 1984.

Jack was active in the medical fi eld. He started with Advanced First Aid. He then became an EMT and was in the second class of Paramedics in Winnebago County. He was instrumental in getting Roscoe & Rockton certifi ed with the Civil Defense, as well as acquiring the fi rst radio and radio tower for the department. He also served three years as a fi re inspector. Jack was active in the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and served three years on the board. He helped with acquiring rescue equipment for the department and was always involved with public events such as the Coon & Ham Dinner.

Jack’s wife Jeanne was active in the women’s auxiliary and his son Earnie also served on the department on and off for 10 years. Jack has four children - Jan, Earnie, JoEva, & Eddie. Jack served a stint in the Navy and worked at Beloit Corporation.

I interviewed Jack for the “Times Rekindled” column in the October 2005 issue of The Firehouse Scene. Following are excerpts from those interviews.

His fi rst fi re was the Brown’s barn fi re out on Beloit Road. At that time Harlem-Roscoe had three trucks - a grass rig, an old 1941 gas tank truck they used for shuttling water, and a 1951 Darley Pumper that held 500 gallons of water. He said the barn had burned to the ground but they spent the night out there with the burning hay.

Jack’s most memorable call was a storage building fi re that caught a corn fi eld on fi re on Willowbrook Road. Jack recalls, “The wind was blowing and the fi re in the cornfi eld was heading north toward some houses. Don Hall was driving the grass rig and it died out in the middle of the fi eld with fi re all around them. We worked hard to get to them before the fi re did. We also stopped the fi re before it made it to the houses to the north.”

Then there was the garbage dump fi re down on the east side of Hwy 251 and Hwy 173. He said it took them days to get that fi re out. Jack also remembers the basement fi re in a house down on Sleepy Hollow when it was very cold. He said, “The trucks were covered with ice and were freezing up. Our coats were frozen shut and we used our helmets to break the ice to get them open. Plus, we still had to ride on the back of the trucks to go home!”

One of the funnier calls he remembers was when Chief Cobby Rogers lost his false teeth when they were heading in on a hose line

to a house fi re. “Cobby kept yelling watch out for my teeth, don’t step on my teeth” Jack recalls. He said Cobby found them, washed them off with the hose line, and put them back in his mouth.

Jack agrees a lot has changed in the last 50 years. Getting stuff in your eyes and breathing smoke was rough so getting air masks, even the fi rst crude ones, helped. He remembers them sending Harry Schoonover into the fi re with one of those fi rst face masks (it was just a mask with a charcoal fi lter on the bottom of it that you breathed through). Well Harry kept coming right back out and they would send him back in wondering what was going on. Well after the second time he came right back out, they fi gured out they had forgotten to pull the tape off the bottom of the canister so Harry could breath. Those were the fi rst types of air masks and they had only 2 or 3 of them, so not everyone got one. He says he also remembers the times before 9-1-1 and dispatchers. There were no pagers – they would respond when the siren was set off.

When asked what he thinks of Harlem-Roscoe Fire, Jack responded, “Ain’t no better in the country! We have proved that throughout our history. We didn’t stand by. We have always went with the times and pushed schooling.”

1961 - Jack Brown and Ben Alexander hanging out at the fi re station.

10/23/08 retired Chiefs Jack Brown and Oscar Presley visit with Chief Don Shoevlin at Station One in Roscoe.

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Local Burning OrdinancesUnincorporated Winnebago Co. (outside of the no burn areas) You may burn dry landscape waste on weekends only from April 15th through May 15th and on weekends during the month of November

Village of Roscoe - Burning Allowed

Machesney Park -May burn yard waste materials only during the months of April and November during daytime hours.

Standard RestrictionsNo unattended burning; some form of fi re extinguishing must be available at the burning site.No burning of landscape waste or brush generated on another property. No burning before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.No burning on non-sunny days when the wind exceeds 10 m.p.h.No burning within 25 feet of any building, structure, or property line.No burning upon sidewalks, right-of-way, streets, highways, or other public roadways.

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03/16/2010 Southdown

04/03/10 Hwy 251

April is National Safe Digging Month. Please call JULIE at 811 before starting any digging!

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Rescue Medical

Retired Chief Oscar Presley has said “I became the fi rst volunteer Paramedic in the area in 1979 because it was needed - other areas

of the country had it; we deserved it too. Emergency medical equipment was so poor and insuffi cient back then that there were immediate improvements with the initiation of the Paramedic program. The results were we no longer had to waste precious time for an ambulance to come from another town. The paramedics could start treatment immediately.”

The department went from having only one crude trauma/ambulance in the 80’s to four Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances we respond with today. Back then they would practically take the whole ambulance into a house and start treatment on a patient. They would start IV’s in the house and call the hospital from a “White Box Phone” and send a cardiac reading before they loaded patients. Now, cell phones and radios are used and the objective is to get the patient to the ambulance as quickly as possible and start treatment while transporting. The department has always kept on the cutting edge with state-of-the-art equipment.

1970’s - EMT’s Oscar Presley, Clay Winters, Dick Lyford, & Terry Pitkus

The department has recently updated their ambulance fl eet by replacing one of them with a new 2010 Medtec ambulance. It is a Chevy 4500 cut away chassis with a Duramax Diesel engine.

The truck is 8” longer and the patient care department has been redesigned – creating more head room for our EMS personnel to work. The outside light bar has been updated and all the lights on the vehicle are LED’s.

There is also a new compartment installed for fi re gear and breathing apparatus for the paramedic/fi refi ghter. This will allow these individuals to be prepared with personal protective equipment if needed for a life safety incident. They will be able to enter a hazardous environment while protecting themselves to help someone if the immediate need arises.

Then & Now - RescueCompiled by Sheryl Drost

RescueFormer fi refi ghter Norm Iverson said, “Back then we didn’t have the Jaws of Life, or other equipment

that you have today. We used come-alongs, hydraulic jacks, shoring, and saws-alls. But it was quite a job!” Visit the department’s web site at www.harlemroscoefi re.com to see all of the department’s rescue fl eet now.

Oscar stands by the department’s fi rst rescue unit.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire has state-of- the-art rescue equipment starting with Heavy Rescue Squad 741. An incredible toolbox on wheels,

2010 - EMS Coordinator Capt. Jay Alms, DC John Bergeron, & Chief Don Shoevlin.

Back Then - Fire Department HumorCompiled by Sheryl Drost

We ran a column in this newsletter back in 2005 titled Time’s Rekindled where each month I would interview one of the guys that had been around for awhile. (See next month’s newsletter for the return of the column) One of the questions was to have them recall something

humorous. These are good, read on...

Virgil Johnson – Ken O’Dell was driving the old rescue truck with three fi refi ghters in it and a fi re extinguisher went off in the truck. (Ken says because Virgil sat on it!) Virgil’s wife was following them and said they looked like McHale’s Navy when all of the sudden the truck stopped and smoke billowed out as the guys piled out. Then they all jumped back in and continued on their way.

Ken O’Dell - “We headed out to a grass fi re where Rock Cut State Park is now. We pulled in and Fire Chief Alexander said we might not be able to make it back in the fi eld. I put the grass truck in four-wheel-drive and got a run at it. Come to fi nd out it was a pig yard full of pigs! And, yes we did sink down to the axles.”

Ike Schoonover – Ike was driving on Gleasman Road in a snow storm with Oscar in the offi cer seat. He said you couldn’t see the road and the wind was blowing snow all over. Well, Oscar kept asking him, “Can’t you go any faster? Can’t we go any faster?” and Ike said he fi nally sped up only to do a complete 360 on the curve. Ike says after that Oscar said, “I think you better slow down a little!”

Ike also remembered a training barn fi re where they had new recruits inside the barn when something exploded (like an aerosol can) and here they all come charging out of the barn. He said Oscar tried to stop them but they barreled right into him knocking him to the ground and ran right over him.

Fred Tuttle – They were responding to a house fi re on the south end of the district. Fred was the last truck out and all the trucks were heading down 251. Well, he began to think the governor had broken on the truck because he was fl ying. Shoot, he passed up all the trucks and wow, he got to be the fi rst one on the scene. Well, he quickly found out why, the truck was empty of water!

Oscar Presley – He responded years ago to a call where they all thought the lady was dead after having an insulin reaction. She was stiff and foaming at the mouth. A family member was praying over her and told Oscar it was too late. He told her no it wasn’t and hooked up an IV to give the victim Glucose and the lady responded right away by waking up. The family member literally started chanting he was a miracle worker and prayed for him all the way to the hospital.

Donny Ball - They were en-route to a call at the Rainbow Trailer Park. This was back when fi refi ghters rode hanging on the backs of the truck. Well, Donny was driving down the frontage road and the snow hadn’t been plowed. They hit a slick spot and the fi re truck literally slid down the street sideways with the rear end now in the lead. He said he could no longer see where they were going, but Dave Bergeron and the other fi refi ghters hanging on the back of the truck sure could!

Chuck Schoonover – Chuck was riding on the back of a truck with Marty Schoonover out to a fi re on Burr Oak Road and Marty’s $30 dollar sunglasses fl ew off. Needless to say that’s all the fi refi ghters heard from Marty for days was how he lost those darn expensive sunglasses!

Chuck also said that most of the drivers would fi ght over the newer trucks, but not Donny Ball, He would always take the oldest truck in the bay.

Bob Schoonover - There was a fi re in a small house that used to be where the gas station is on 173 and 251. They got there right away and couldn’t understand why the house had already almost burned to the ground. Come to fi nd out the guy that lived there found the fi re and went to the Prairie Moon Bar to call the fi re department. Well, it seems he had a couple beers fi rst and then remembered his house was on fi re, and fi nally made the phone call!”

Bob also remembers the time Harold Jones went running up with a hose line and climbed up the ladder to get to the second fl oor at a fi re on Belvidere Road. Well, I guess they had too much pressure on the hose line, because as soon as he opened the nozzle, it blew him back to the ground ladder and all.

Dave Bergeron - “Lang and I were riding on the back of Engine 702 heading to the fi re out at the saw mill in Argyle. Oscar was in the front seat. All of the sudden, here he comes. He had crawled out the window and back to us and slid down between us on the back of the truck – while the truck was moving!” Oscar goes, “Boys that fi re is a *&%^ burner, so when I tell you to jump, you grab the hose and jump.” “So when we got there, he said jump, and we jumped! And of course, we tumbled right on our butts. We then headed up to the fi re and things started exploding and we got scared and dropped the hose line and started running. We didn’t make it far though before Chief Ben Alexander had a hold of both of us and sent us right back up there, telling us to fi ght that fi re!”

Terry Pitkus – They got back from a call in the middle of the night and Oscar still had his gear on and asked Terry if he could give him a ride home. Terry asked him wasn’t he going to take off his gear. Oscar told him no. Well, it seems Oscar had fl own out of bed for the call and forgot to put any clothes on before he ran to the station!

Jerry Schreck - There used to be a time that there weren’t as many access points to I-90 and they would just cut the fence along the Tollway to get out there. He remembers the one time that the cop came up to them in a rage and said they couldn’t do that, and that Oscar replied to him that they already had!

Jerry also said back then they had a key to McDonald’s Gas Station on Main Street to get gas after hours. Whenever they needed gas, Oscar would unlock the door, fi ll up, fi ll out a receipt, and lock the door on the way out.

Norm Iverson - They were responding to a call, back when you used to hop on the back of the truck (if you were not driving), and the policy was to NOT hop on if the truck was moving! But, as you can guess, one fi reman tried to hop on, he grabbed onto the handrails, but lost his footing. Instead of letting go, they made it down Main Street before he let go! The call on him was worse than the original call. What was humorous about this was, after the fact, that he was not seriously hurt, but his pants and legs looked like he had been in a dog fi ght and he lost!

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House & Garage FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Flames and billowing smoke lit up the night sky and could be seen for miles away as fi refi ghters headed toward a fi re on Heartwood Lane in Roscoe on March 16.

The garage, back porch and part of the home were fully involved with fi re when units arrived. The fi re was so intense that neighbor’s homes on three sides sustained minimal damage. Firefi ghters did an excellent job in protecting them from further damage.

It would be into the wee hours of the morning before the buildings were overhauled making sure all the fi re was extinguished.

The residents of the home had gotten out safely, but a pet cat died in the fi re.

The fi re is believed to be accidental and started on the back porch area before spreading to the garage and home. Two vehicles were destroyed in the garage.

The Firehouse Scene - The Firehouse Scene - Page 7

“Back then three or four of us had fi re phones in our homes and after we took a call, the fi re siren would be set off. Some of us tried to get to the station and get a truck out before the siren quit. It became quite the contest! But people would see your blue light back then and would get out of the way.”

Lt.Virgil Johnson

“When I started in the 60’s there were no pagers or radios. You responded to the wail of the fi re siren at the station. When you arrived, you looked at the chalkboard to see where the call was. It would say things like – house fi re at Mary Budd’s or medical at John Doe’s house. We didn’t need to use addresses.” Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell

“Back then we didn’t have SCBAs. We would go in and fi ght the fi re for about 10 minutes. We would then come out and they would give us oxygen. Then it was back into the building for another 10 minutes and back out for more oxygen.

Retired Firefi ghter Bob Schoonover

“We didn’t have breathing masks, so you would keep your mouth right behind the nozzle and stream of water to breathe fresh air. Shoot, we fought a lot of fi res that way.”

Former Firefi ghter Fred Tuttle

Pictured left, fi refi ghters now should always wear a proper fi tting SCBA into any fi re.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire now has three stations and above, Station #3 has a state-of-the-art training facility. See page 12 for a picture of Stations 1 & 2.. Visit our web site at www.harlemroscoefi re.com for a virtual walk through of the burn tower.

Training“There is so much good schooling and classroom now. Back then if you could walk, wear a hat and coat, and pull a hose or carry a bucket, you were sent into a fi re. You were told to knock down the fi re and check for people. Everything is safer and nicer now and it’s all right in front of you. Fires seem to be more complicated these days especially with more industry.”

Retired Assistant Chief Donny Ball

Then & Now Compiled by Sheryl Drost

Fire Gear Back then the fi re gear, if you had any, was a long rubber coat and hip high or 3/4 rubber boots. Bunker pants were introduced in the 80’s. Now fi refi ghters wear gear that completely covers every part of the body and has high tech fi re protection qualities.

Jack Brown and Ben Alexander stand in front of the old Station One in 1961 after the addition.

The original Station One on Main Street in the 50’s

There is evidence of a fi re brigade as early as 1912 in the Village of Roscoe, possibly consisting of a few buckets and a ladder put into service by anyone on the scene. By the 1930’s some local residents banded together, converting a hay wagon into a water pumper. This was accomplished by installing a tank, Mercury motor, and a pump on the wagon with the hose and leather straps on the tongue. The leather straps would attach the fi re wagon to the fi rst arriving automobile, so it could be pulled to the scene. This fi rst fi re vehicle was probably kept in a fi reman’s garage.

“Back then, the fi rst fi refi ghters would get the trucks rolling, and if the trucks were out of the station, the next fi refi ghters drove straight to the scene. Well, four of them were at the station when the call came in and they took 3 trucks straight to the scene. So, until more fi refi ghters showed up, three of them fought the fi re and that left me engineering all three trucks – an Engine, a Tanker, and a Grass Rig.”


Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District was incorporated on April 4, 1940. This was brought about by the need to purchase a good piece of fi re apparatus. Harlem Township residents joined Roscoe Township residents to make this possible, creating the name “Harlem-Roscoe”, providing fi re protection for both communities and raising enough money for a real fi re truck. Harlem-Roscoe Fire’s fi rst fi re station was purchased around 1945, with an addition built in 1959.

“We rode on the back of the fi re trucks and I can remember one time when Dick Lang almost fell off, but we managed to grab him and pull him back on. They eventually made us wear harnesses and then we fi nally got trucks with crew seats.”

Lt. Virgil Johnson

Station #2 was built in 1978 on Ralston Rd.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene -

“Back then three or four of us had fi re phones in our homes and after we took a call, the fi re siren would be set off. Some of us tried to get to the station and get a truck out before the siren quit. It became quite the contest! But people would see your blue light back then and would get out of the way.”

Lt.Virgil Johnson

“When I started in the 60’s there were no pagers or radios. You responded to the wail of the fi re siren at the station. When you arrived, you looked at the chalkboard to see where the call was. It would say things like – house fi re at Mary Budd’s or medical at John Doe’s house. We didn’t need to use addresses.” Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell

“Back then we didn’t have SCBAs. We would go in and fi ght the fi re for about 10 minutes. We would then come out and they would give us oxygen. Then it was back into the building for another 10 minutes and back out for more oxygen.

Retired Firefi ghter Bob Schoonover

“We didn’t have breathing masks, so you would keep your mouth right behind the nozzle and stream of water to breathe fresh air. Shoot, we fought a lot of fi res that way.”

Former Firefi ghter Fred Tuttle

Pictured left, fi refi ghters now should always wear a proper fi tting SCBA into any fi re.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire now has three stations and above, Station #3 has a state-of-the-art training facility. See page 12 for a picture of Stations 1 & 2.. Visit our web site at www.harlemroscoefi re.com for a virtual walk through of the burn tower.

Training“There is so much good schooling and classroom now. Back then if you could walk, wear a hat and coat, and pull a hose or carry a bucket, you were sent into a fi re. You were told to knock down the fi re and check for people. Everything is safer and nicer now and it’s all right in front of you. Fires seem to be more complicated these days especially with more industry.”


Then & Now Compiled by Sheryl Drost

Fire Gear Back then the fi re gear, if you had any, was a long rubber coat and hip high or 3/4 rubber boots. Bunker pants were introduced in the 80’s. Now fi refi ghters wear gear that completely covers every part of the body and has high tech fi re protection qualities.

Jack Brown and Ben Alexander stand in front of the old Station One in 1961 after the addition.

The original Station One on Main Street in the 50’s

There is evidence of a fi re brigade as early as 1912 in the Village of Roscoe, possibly consisting of a few buckets and a ladder put into service by anyone on the scene. By the 1930’s some local residents banded together, converting a hay wagon into a water pumper. This was accomplished by installing a tank, Mercury motor, and a pump on the wagon with the hose and leather straps on the tongue. The leather straps would attach the fi re wagon to the fi rst arriving automobile, so it could be pulled to the scene. This fi rst fi re vehicle was probably kept in a fi reman’s garage.

“Back then, the fi rst fi refi ghters would get the trucks rolling, and if the trucks were out of the station, the next fi refi ghters drove straight to the scene. Well, four of them were at the station when the call came in and they took 3 trucks straight to the scene. So, until more fi refi ghters showed up, three of them fought the fi re and that left me engineering all three trucks – an Engine, a Tanker, and a Grass Rig.”


Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District was incorporated on April 4, 1940. This was brought about by the need to purchase a good piece of fi re apparatus. Harlem Township residents joined Roscoe Township residents to make this possible, creating the name “Harlem-Roscoe”, providing fi re protection for both communities and raising enough money for a real fi re truck. Harlem-Roscoe Fire’s fi rst fi re station was purchased around 1945, with an addition built in 1959.

“We rode on the back of the fi re trucks and I can remember one time when Dick Lang almost fell off, but we managed to grab him and pull him back on. They eventually made us wear harnesses and then we fi nally got trucks with crew seats.”

Lt. Virgil Johnson

Station #2 was built in 1978 on Ralston Rd.

Back Then - Fire Department HumorCompiled by Sheryl Drost

We ran a column in this newsletter back in 2005 titled Time’s Rekindled where each month I would interview one of the guys that had been around for awhile. (See next month’s newsletter for the return of the column) One of the questions was to have them recall something

humorous. These are good, read on...

Virgil Johnson – Ken O’Dell was driving the old rescue truck with three fi refi ghters in it and a fi re extinguisher went off in the truck. (Ken says because Virgil sat on it!) Virgil’s wife was following them and said they looked like McHale’s Navy when all of the sudden the truck stopped and smoke billowed out as the guys piled out. Then they all jumped back in and continued on their way.

Ken O’Dell - “We headed out to a grass fi re where Rock Cut State Park is now. We pulled in and Fire Chief Alexander said we might not be able to make it back in the fi eld. I put the grass truck in four-wheel-drive and got a run at it. Come to fi nd out it was a pig yard full of pigs! And, yes we did sink down to the axles.”

Ike Schoonover – Ike was driving on Gleasman Road in a snow storm with Oscar in the offi cer seat. He said you couldn’t see the road and the wind was blowing snow all over. Well, Oscar kept asking him, “Can’t you go any faster? Can’t we go any faster?” and Ike said he fi nally sped up only to do a complete 360 on the curve. Ike says after that Oscar said, “I think you better slow down a little!”

Ike also remembered a training barn fi re where they had new recruits inside the barn when something exploded (like an aerosol can) and here they all come charging out of the barn. He said Oscar tried to stop them but they barreled right into him knocking him to the ground and ran right over him.

Fred Tuttle – They were responding to a house fi re on the south end of the district. Fred was the last truck out and all the trucks were heading down 251. Well, he began to think the governor had broken on the truck because he was fl ying. Shoot, he passed up all the trucks and wow, he got to be the fi rst one on the scene. Well, he quickly found out why, the truck was empty of water!

Oscar Presley – He responded years ago to a call where they all thought the lady was dead after having an insulin reaction. She was stiff and foaming at the mouth. A family member was praying over her and told Oscar it was too late. He told her no it wasn’t and hooked up an IV to give the victim Glucose and the lady responded right away by waking up. The family member literally started chanting he was a miracle worker and prayed for him all the way to the hospital.

Donny Ball - They were en-route to a call at the Rainbow Trailer Park. This was back when fi refi ghters rode hanging on the backs of the truck. Well, Donny was driving down the frontage road and the snow hadn’t been plowed. They hit a slick spot and the fi re truck literally slid down the street sideways with the rear end now in the lead. He said he could no longer see where they were going, but Dave Bergeron and the other fi refi ghters hanging on the back of the truck sure could!

Chuck Schoonover – Chuck was riding on the back of a truck with Marty Schoonover out to a fi re on Burr Oak Road and Marty’s $30 dollar sunglasses fl ew off. Needless to say that’s all the fi refi ghters heard from Marty for days was how he lost those darn expensive sunglasses!

Chuck also said that most of the drivers would fi ght over the newer trucks, but not Donny Ball, He would always take the oldest truck in the bay.

Bob Schoonover - There was a fi re in a small house that used to be where the gas station is on 173 and 251. They got there right away and couldn’t understand why the house had already almost burned to the ground. Come to fi nd out the guy that lived there found the fi re and went to the Prairie Moon Bar to call the fi re department. Well, it seems he had a couple beers fi rst and then remembered his house was on fi re, and fi nally made the phone call!”

Bob also remembers the time Harold Jones went running up with a hose line and climbed up the ladder to get to the second fl oor at a fi re on Belvidere Road. Well, I guess they had too much pressure on the hose line, because as soon as he opened the nozzle, it blew him back to the ground ladder and all.

Dave Bergeron - “Lang and I were riding on the back of Engine 702 heading to the fi re out at the saw mill in Argyle. Oscar was in the front seat. All of the sudden, here he comes. He had crawled out the window and back to us and slid down between us on the back of the truck – while the truck was moving!” Oscar goes, “Boys that fi re is a *&%^ burner, so when I tell you to jump, you grab the hose and jump.” “So when we got there, he said jump, and we jumped! And of course, we tumbled right on our butts. We then headed up to the fi re and things started exploding and we got scared and dropped the hose line and started running. We didn’t make it far though before Chief Ben Alexander had a hold of both of us and sent us right back up there, telling us to fi ght that fi re!”

Terry Pitkus – They got back from a call in the middle of the night and Oscar still had his gear on and asked Terry if he could give him a ride home. Terry asked him wasn’t he going to take off his gear. Oscar told him no. Well, it seems Oscar had fl own out of bed for the call and forgot to put any clothes on before he ran to the station!

Jerry Schreck - There used to be a time that there weren’t as many access points to I-90 and they would just cut the fence along the Tollway to get out there. He remembers the one time that the cop came up to them in a rage and said they couldn’t do that, and that Oscar replied to him that they already had!

Jerry also said back then they had a key to McDonald’s Gas Station on Main Street to get gas after hours. Whenever they needed gas, Oscar would unlock the door, fi ll up, fi ll out a receipt, and lock the door on the way out.

Norm Iverson - They were responding to a call, back when you used to hop on the back of the truck (if you were not driving), and the policy was to NOT hop on if the truck was moving! But, as you can guess, one fi reman tried to hop on, he grabbed onto the handrails, but lost his footing. Instead of letting go, they made it down Main Street before he let go! The call on him was worse than the original call. What was humorous about this was, after the fact, that he was not seriously hurt, but his pants and legs looked like he had been in a dog fi ght and he lost!


House & Garage FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Flames and billowing smoke lit up the night sky and could be seen for miles away as fi refi ghters headed toward a fi re on Heartwood Lane in Roscoe on March 16.

The garage, back porch and part of the home were fully involved with fi re when units arrived. The fi re was so intense that neighbor’s homes on three sides sustained minimal damage. Firefi ghters did an excellent job in protecting them from further damage.

It would be into the wee hours of the morning before the buildings were overhauled making sure all the fi re was extinguished.

The residents of the home had gotten out safely, but a pet cat died in the fi re.

The fi re is believed to be accidental and started on the back porch area before spreading to the garage and home. Two vehicles were destroyed in the garage.


Rescue Medical

Retired Chief Oscar Presley has said “I became the fi rst volunteer Paramedic in the area in 1979 because it was needed - other areas

of the country had it; we deserved it too. Emergency medical equipment was so poor and insuffi cient back then that there were immediate improvements with the initiation of the Paramedic program. The results were we no longer had to waste precious time for an ambulance to come from another town. The paramedics could start treatment immediately.”

The department went from having only one crude trauma/ambulance in the 80’s to four Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances we respond with today. Back then they would practically take the whole ambulance into a house and start treatment on a patient. They would start IV’s in the house and call the hospital from a “White Box Phone” and send a cardiac reading before they loaded patients. Now, cell phones and radios are used and the objective is to get the patient to the ambulance as quickly as possible and start treatment while transporting. The department has always kept on the cutting edge with state-of-the-art equipment.

1970’s - EMT’s Oscar Presley, Clay Winters, Dick Lyford, & Terry Pitkus

The department has recently updated their ambulance fl eet by replacing one of them with a new 2010 Medtec ambulance. It is a Chevy 4500 cut away chassis with a Duramax Diesel engine.

The truck is 8” longer and the patient care department has been redesigned – creating more head room for our EMS personnel to work. The outside light bar has been updated and all the lights on the vehicle are LED’s.

There is also a new compartment installed for fi re gear and breathing apparatus for the paramedic/fi refi ghter. This will allow these individuals to be prepared with personal protective equipment if needed for a life safety incident. They will be able to enter a hazardous environment while protecting themselves to help someone if the immediate need arises.

Then & Now - RescueCompiled by Sheryl Drost

RescueFormer fi refi ghter Norm Iverson said, “Back then we didn’t have the Jaws of Life, or other equipment

that you have today. We used come-alongs, hydraulic jacks, shoring, and saws-alls. But it was quite a job!” Visit the department’s web site at www.harlemroscoefi re.com to see all of the department’s rescue fl eet now.

Oscar stands by the department’s fi rst rescue unit.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire has state-of- the-art rescue equipment starting with Heavy Rescue Squad 741. An incredible toolbox on wheels,

2010 - EMS Coordinator Capt. Jay Alms, DC John Bergeron, & Chief Don Shoevlin.

Field Fires BeginStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

The fi eld fi res have begun! Left, Firefi ghters Paul Stanphill, Josh Hoffl and, and Rob Gonia work to put out a fi re in a cornfi eld off Joy Dr. started when a burn pile got out of control. Below, Capt. Mike Drost drives along the edge of the fi re in the minipumper spraying water from nozzles located below the bumpers.

Firefi ghters Steve Shoevlin, Joe Koeninger, and Greg Wernick quickly have another fi re under control, this time in a backyard off Wild Deer Trail.

Truck FirePhoto by Charlotte Alms

Firefi ghters Eric Schweitzer, Zak Prielipp, and Greg Wernick check for hot spots after extinguishing a truck engine fi re on March 16.

AccidentsPhotos by Charlotte Alms

Farewell to a former ChiefBy Sheryl Drost

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Jack Brown passed away on March 10.

Jack joined the department on August 23, 1953 and served 30 years, climbing the ranks to Chief. He served 18 years as Assistant Chief and became Chief in 1981 when Chief Ben Alexander retired. He resigned as Chief in 1982 after serving

less than a year due to other commitments. He still served a couple more years before retiring from the department in February 1984.

Jack was active in the medical fi eld. He started with Advanced First Aid. He then became an EMT and was in the second class of Paramedics in Winnebago County. He was instrumental in getting Roscoe & Rockton certifi ed with the Civil Defense, as well as acquiring the fi rst radio and radio tower for the department. He also served three years as a fi re inspector. Jack was active in the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and served three years on the board. He helped with acquiring rescue equipment for the department and was always involved with public events such as the Coon & Ham Dinner.

Jack’s wife Jeanne was active in the women’s auxiliary and his son Earnie also served on the department on and off for 10 years. Jack has four children - Jan, Earnie, JoEva, & Eddie. Jack served a stint in the Navy and worked at Beloit Corporation.

I interviewed Jack for the “Times Rekindled” column in the October 2005 issue of The Firehouse Scene. Following are excerpts from those interviews.

His fi rst fi re was the Brown’s barn fi re out on Beloit Road. At that time Harlem-Roscoe had three trucks - a grass rig, an old 1941 gas tank truck they used for shuttling water, and a 1951 Darley Pumper that held 500 gallons of water. He said the barn had burned to the ground but they spent the night out there with the burning hay.

Jack’s most memorable call was a storage building fi re that caught a corn fi eld on fi re on Willowbrook Road. Jack recalls, “The wind was blowing and the fi re in the cornfi eld was heading north toward some houses. Don Hall was driving the grass rig and it died out in the middle of the fi eld with fi re all around them. We worked hard to get to them before the fi re did. We also stopped the fi re before it made it to the houses to the north.”

Then there was the garbage dump fi re down on the east side of Hwy 251 and Hwy 173. He said it took them days to get that fi re out. Jack also remembers the basement fi re in a house down on Sleepy Hollow when it was very cold. He said, “The trucks were covered with ice and were freezing up. Our coats were frozen shut and we used our helmets to break the ice to get them open. Plus, we still had to ride on the back of the trucks to go home!”

One of the funnier calls he remembers was when Chief Cobby Rogers lost his false teeth when they were heading in on a hose line

to a house fi re. “Cobby kept yelling watch out for my teeth, don’t step on my teeth” Jack recalls. He said Cobby found them, washed them off with the hose line, and put them back in his mouth.

Jack agrees a lot has changed in the last 50 years. Getting stuff in your eyes and breathing smoke was rough so getting air masks, even the fi rst crude ones, helped. He remembers them sending Harry Schoonover into the fi re with one of those fi rst face masks (it was just a mask with a charcoal fi lter on the bottom of it that you breathed through). Well Harry kept coming right back out and they would send him back in wondering what was going on. Well after the second time he came right back out, they fi gured out they had forgotten to pull the tape off the bottom of the canister so Harry could breath. Those were the fi rst types of air masks and they had only 2 or 3 of them, so not everyone got one. He says he also remembers the times before 9-1-1 and dispatchers. There were no pagers – they would respond when the siren was set off.

When asked what he thinks of Harlem-Roscoe Fire, Jack responded, “Ain’t no better in the country! We have proved that throughout our history. We didn’t stand by. We have always went with the times and pushed schooling.”

1961 - Jack Brown and Ben Alexander hanging out at the fi re station.

10/23/08 retired Chiefs Jack Brown and Oscar Presley visit with Chief Don Shoevlin at Station One in Roscoe.


Local Burning OrdinancesUnincorporated Winnebago Co. (outside of the no burn areas) You may burn dry landscape waste on weekends only from April 15th through May 15th and on weekends during the month of November

Village of Roscoe - Burning Allowed

Machesney Park -May burn yard waste materials only during the months of April and November during daytime hours.

Standard RestrictionsNo unattended burning; some form of fi re extinguishing must be available at the burning site.No burning of landscape waste or brush generated on another property. No burning before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.No burning on non-sunny days when the wind exceeds 10 m.p.h.No burning within 25 feet of any building, structure, or property line.No burning upon sidewalks, right-of-way, streets, highways, or other public roadways.

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03/16/2010 Southdown

04/03/10 Hwy 251

April is National Safe Digging Month. Please call JULIE at 811 before starting any digging!

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who had an opportunity to attend our annual dinner. The men and women of the fi re department did an outstanding job as usual.

This is a special time as well with the celebration of “70 years of service to our communities”. We will be using

the theme of “Then and Now” throughout this newsletter.

Sheryl has done an excellent job of research and layout to try and accomplish this. My hat is off to her for her due diligence while accomplishing this task. I would also like to thank those of you who contributed, whether it was with interviews or memorabilia, to make this a success.

The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District has come a long way since the days of its one fi re truck and oversized two-car garage that served as the downtown Main Street fi re station. This has been possible through commitment and dedication of its volunteer members and the support we receive from the community.

While the faces have changed over the years, the commitment by the men and women who put on their turnout gear at a moment’s notice hasn’t. It is a dedicated group of over 100 people when you include our administrative staff, chaplains, dispatchers, photographers, and fi re prevention bureau.

We have taken delivery of our new ambulance this past week. It is a Medtec ambulance on a Chevrolet 4500 chassis. This ambulance will replace one of the older ambulances in our fl eet.

We hope you fi nd this newsletter not only informative but a little humorous. Remember you can keep up to date on the progress of the department and the individuals by visiting our website, www.harlemroscoefi re.com. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District #1“70 Years of Service”

Filed April 4, 1940 . . . shall be deemed an organized fi re protection district under the statute in such case made and provided, and known as Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District #1 and that the results of the said election be spread upon the records of the court.

Highlights by Decades:

1940’s – Incorporated as a Fire Protection District, had 2-door fi re station located at 10670 Main St. in Roscoe, and had three Fire Chiefs, Harry Evans, John Kelly, & George McDonald.

1950’s – Addition built to fi re station, department had three trucks, Cobby Rogers became Fire Chief.

1960’s – Ben Alexander became Fire Chief and Inspection Bureau started.

1970’s – First paramedic in volunteer fi re department, fi rst rescue truck, fi rst volunteer department to purchase “Jaws of Life”, second fi re station built at 825 Ralston Road and pagers were added for notifi cation of volunteers.

1980’s – First true trauma units/ ambulances were purchased, three Fire Chiefs served -Chief Ben Alexander, Jack Brown, and Oscar Presley, bunker pants replace rubber hip boots, training division started, trucks now had closed cabs and riding on back of trucks was stopped, the Association’s Spring Coon & Ham Dinner had to drop the coon from its menu.

1990’s – Fire Station Three was built at 13974 Willowbrook Road, purchased thermal imaging cameras, fi rst aerial truck was purchased, Station One was moved to 10544 Main Street, a department web site was developed and a monthly newsletter began.

2000’s – Became an ambulance district, training burn tower and training facility addition, purchased three aerials including two Quints, preemptors installed, implemented a computer mapping and 24 hour in-house dispatching, Fire Chief Oscar Presley retired, Don Shoevlin became new Fire Chief, and advanced training directives were incorporated.


Birthdays

April1st Jeff Ball10th Colleen Bloyer12th Ami Sommerfi eld21st Jim Burdick24th Paul Stanphill29th Snoopy

May1st Dan Gunderson Erik Hansen3rd Christian Bush13th Josh Hoffl and15th Joe Ortiz16th Chuck Schoonover18th Judy Currier23rd Rob Lukowski31st Jordan Stark

May Breakfast List

Bob Stark, Eric Wainright,Steve Shoevlin, Neil Roe,

Mark Soppe, Josh Hoffl and,Ron Swain & Scott Jensen

Total Calls for 2010

535

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s web site after the second Sunday each month.

www.harlemroscoefi re.comE-mail submissions to: sdrost@harlemroscoefi re.com Harry Evans 40-44 John Kelly 1944 George McDonald 44-52 Cobby Rogers 52-65 Ben Alexander 65-81 Jack Brown 81-82 Oscar Presley 82-2007

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chiefs

2008 - current

HRFD Wins Chili Cook-off Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghter Tom & Ramona Lake won the chance to represent Harlem-Roscoe Fire at the RoRo Expo Chili Cook-off this year by fi rst winning the chili cook-off among H-R fi refi ghters. Harlem-Roscoe Fire then won the Chili Cook-off at the RoRo Expo. They were up against the Roscoe village and police as well as Rockton’s village, police, and fi re. RoRo Expo patrons would test all the chilis and then vote by placing money into that department’s bucket. Congratulations, Tom & Ramona!

Left, Firefi ghters Adam Arnould, Tom Person, Mickey Rykowski, and Christi Wilson watch as a patron “votes” for Harlem-Roscoe in the Chili Cook-off by placing money in their bucket. Right, Chief Don Shoevlin poses with winning cooks Tom and Ramona Lake. (It was Ramona’s grandma’s recipe that won)

Congratulations to Lt. Tom Aaker and his wife Amber on the birth of their second child. Thomas Michael Aaker Jr. arrived March 11 weighing in at 8lbs. 9oz. and 19in long. 18-month-old big sister, Piper, doesn’t seem to mind the crying now and showers him with hugs and kisses. It seems the fi rst night Tommy was home though, every time he would cry, she would. Tommy is also grandson to Capt. Mike Drost and Photographer Sheryl Drost, nephew to FF Jim Daughenbaugh, and cousin to FF Neil Roe. Congratulations again, Amber and Tom; he is adorable!

New Baby

the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

You Know you’re an old H-R Firefi ghter . . .

Who was well-known for saying (in his southern drawl) 7mo7tin8 over the radio?Who was nicknamed “Pipes”?What wild animal was used for years in the spring dinners?Who are the original two clowns at Station Three?Why did you dial 3-2341?Who still carries the nickname “Grumpy”?Who was fi rst paramedic for H-R?What retired Deputy Chief lays claim to the “3-minute barn burn”?Where was the original Station One located?What did a successful fund-raiser in the 70’s raise enough money for?Who donated the land that Station Three sits on?What was the name of the big horse stable that burned in the 50’s?What was the Green Weanie?What H-R Fire Chief was killed when his car was struck by a train in Rockton?What was Oscar’s “patented ditch maneuver”?Who was the fi rst female fi refi ghter on the department?What Fire Chief could simply press a button on his wall to set off the fi re siren?What was an old bread truck converted into?What was the “Thumper” used for?What Fire Chief was also the 1st Roscoe Village President?

Answers: 1. Tom McMullin Sr. 2. Terry Pitkus 3. Racoon 4. Mike Rallo & Rick Olson 5. To call the fi re department 6. Ike Schoonover 7. Oscar Presley 8. Richard Mackenthun 9. 10670 Main St. 10. A rescue unit 11. The A.J. Dwyer family 12. The Flying Dutchmen Stables 13. An old 4-wheel drive grass truck. 14. Cobby Rogers 15. Getting from Hwy 251 to the frontage road. 16. Joyce Graeff. 17. Ben Alexander 18. The fi rst rescue unit. 19. A machine that would do chest compressions. 20. Cobby Rogers.

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2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.

11.12.13.14.

15.16.17.

18.19.20.

Grandparents!

* A young grandson called his grandmother to wish her Happy Birthday. He asked her how old she was, and she told him, 62. Her grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”* After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she

heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?” A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.” The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fi refl ies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with fl ashlights.”A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. “Oh,” he said, “she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him!A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. “That’s interesting,” she said, “how do you make babies?” “It’s simple,” replied the girl. “You just change y to i and add es.”

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PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

The Firehouse Scene - www.harlemroscoefi re.com

April 2010 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Then & Now

Station #1 Station #2

you know you’re an old h-r fireﬁ ghter . . . the firehouse scene · 2018-09-18 · when we’re...

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