The Mt. Vernon Fire Department
The citizens of Mt. Vernon met at the school house on March 12, 1907, for the purpose of discussing the necessity of securing fire protection for the village of Mt. Vernon. Temporary officers were elected. A committee was appointed to research the prices of fire pumps. Funds for the project were to be secured through soliciting.
At the second meeting officers were elected: C.J. Lewis, president; John Korner, vice-president; Ferdinand Koch, secretary; B.W. Chandler, treasurer and F.G. Moore, chief. A pump and hose were ordered. John Korner was to construct the hose cart. His fees were $8.00.
The first Fire Department Labor Day celebration was observed in 1907. Lumber was purchased for a bowery. A band was recruited and the ball teams were organized. The celebration receipts amounted to $297.00. After expenses were paid, the net profit was $53.13.
On October 23, 1907, an agreement was made to build the fire house. A building site was suggested and ladders and a ladder truck were purchased. John Korner donated the building site, providing a cistern with a capacity of 100 barrels, be dug. It was to be no deeper than 14 feet from the top of the ground. It was to have a cover of 3 feet of dirt and be completed by September 30, 1908. Each man working was to be paid $1.50 per day.
At the June 1, 1908 meeting, the president, C.J. Lewis reported that he had not yet insured the fire house and fixtures as requested because it had slipped his mind. On February 1, 1909 a motion was made to put a new lock on the fire house - one that doesn't freeze. On May 3, 1909 a motion was made and carried to buy a suitable bell for the fire company. The chief appointed 26 members to man the pump and engine, hose cart and the ladder truck. The posts for the bell frame cost $3.10. The treasurer reported a balance of $4.64 for the year 1909.
On July 4, 1910, another celebration was held. On July 1, 1912, five hundred feet of new hose was purchased and a box sociable was held to pay for the new hose. The gross proceeds from the event were $41.05. To raise more money a dance was scheduled to be held in the town hall. On April 11, 1927, it was decided that a second-hand Chemical Engine be purchased, providing it was in good shape. It was later housed in the garage of William Arnold. He was to receive one dollar per year for rent for storage of the Chemical Engine. By this time dances were held more often to raise money for the Mt. Vernon Fire Department.
The Fire Chief would order out men whenever he saw fit to look after the cistern and to fill it up if necessary. On January 7, 1929, a 2 1/2 gallon soda and acid fire extinguisher was purchased. At the March, 1936 meeting, a motion was made and carried that the chief be paid 50 cents per hour for his time spent in keeping the fire apparatus in good order. It was Carl Colby's wish that the fire house on his property be removed. There upon, the fire apparatus was housed in the brick chicken house of Koch's Store. A new fire extinguisher was purchased and moved to several locations around town, until finally it was to be located in one place, that being in the corner garage.
In 1957, the Mt. Vernon Fire Department was incorporated with a declaration and five articles. From 1940 until 1965 only annual meetings were held. The annual meeting on March 16, 1965 was held at the Ralph Davis home. At that meeting, a motion was made to dispose of all property and sell the fire extinguisher. All funds were to be transferred to the park. When the department was dissolved the officers were: Ralph Davis, president; Trivett Sponem, vice-president; Herbert Hankel, secretary; John Kollath, treasurer; Walter Losenegger, director 2-year; Harland Erfurth, director 1-year; Benny Goebler, fire chief; and Harland Erfurth and Leonard Marty, assistant chiefs. Records show that Ferdinand Koch was secretary from 1907 to 1927. His brother Fred Koch was secretary from 1927 until 1947, and Herbert Hankel served from 1947 until 1965.
The Mount Horeb Rural Fire Protection Association was formed after it was ruled a conflict of interest for insurance companies to own and operate fire apparatus. The Association member municipalities included the Village of Blue Mounds and the Townships of Blue Mounds, Cross Plains, Perry, Primrose, Springdale and Vermont. Unincorporated communities within the townships included Daleyville, Forward, Klevenville, Pine Bluff and Mount Vernon. The Mount Horeb Volunteer Firefighters again staffed the apparatus provided by the Rural Association.
Recognizing the duplication of apparatus and equipment and in an attempt to provide improved fire protection at a lower cost, the Rural Association and the Village of Mount Horeb merged to form the Mount Horeb Area Fire District in May of 1979. The total area served covers 42 square miles, inhabited by 9000 residents. Two hundred and thirty-five businesses are provided fire protection by the Mount Horeb Volunteers. Current staffing levels include 45 firefighters and 30 EMS volunteers some of which are cross-trained. The Mount Horeb Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Medical Service was formed in 1976 to provide a basic life support EMS system for the area. The Department responds to approximately 600 calls per year including 450 to 500 rescue and 100 to 150 fire incidents.
The Mount Horeb Volunteer Fire Department takes great pride in being one of the finest equipped units in the state. This equipment currently consists of three pumper-tankers, a heavy duty rescue squad, a quintuple combination ladder truck, a brush attack unit, a command car and a basic life support ambulance. In addition to providing basic life support emergency medical service and full fire protection for the Mount Horeb Area Fire District, the volunteers also manage to find time to organize and provide four community-wide events, two of which double as department fund raisers. Folks of all ages delight in the Fourth of July Children's Parades, held both in Mount Horeb and Mount Vernon.