“Wisconsin’s Oldest Organized Volunteer Fire Department”
The Village of Sauk City was incorporated on March 30, 1854 and became the first incorporated village in Wisconsin. In the Autumn of that same year, fire struck the east side of the 800 block of Water Street in Sauk City and totally destroyed Simon Dean’s store with the post office inside, a tin shop, Mr. Nebel’s house and store, a copper shop, a barn and four horses. The fire demonstrated a need for a fire corps, and before the year was out in December of 1854, a meeting was held and four companies were organized as follows: Engine, Bucket, Hook and Ladder, and Rescue and Protection. On January 2, 1855, Charles Spiehr, a leading member of the German Free Congregation, was elected president of the new Fire Company. John Henry Hantzsch, Captain of the Sauk City Rifle Company, agreed to be provisional Captain. J.J. Heller, who called the first meeting, was made foreman of the Engine Company. Charles Deininger was foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company and F. Franzel was foreman of the Bucket Company. This is how the Sauk City Volunteer Fire Department came to be, following in the trail blazing footsteps of the village, becoming the States first organized volunteer fire department.
The Beginning
Pioneers of Progress
Sauk City, Rich in History. By 1860 the fire department was flourishing and proud to have a cart, loaded with hand tools, and J.J. Heller’s hand pump. At this time they were storing their equipment in J.J Heller’s Store. In 1863 the Village of Sauk City Trustees agreed to build them a fire hall on what is now 717 John Adams St. in Sauk City. It was a single stall brick structure. The original structure was 36′ deep and 11′ wide, it cost $210 to construct. In 1870, the fire department purchased a used Steam Engine, ” The Andrew Proudfit”, known to them as “the large engine” from the City of Madison Fire Department. Also in that same year the fire station was expanded to 28′ wide by 36′ deep which is what currently stands today. The bell tower was also added. The fire station (pictured right) is now a museum that houses the Fire departments two antique Grass Premier trucks and other memorabilia. This site is on the State of Wisconsin Historical Society registry, ref # 52391, and holds the claim of the oldest standing fire station in the state of Wisconsin.
To set up a tour or to visit the museum, please go to our Contact Us page and leave your information. The museum is open by appointment only between May-October.
The hand pump above was made by J.J. Heller, a prominent business man in the early Sauk City. J.J. Heller built this pump prior to 1854 to protect his own business from fire. He became one of the founding members of the Sauk City Volunteer Fire Department and was the very man who set up the first meeting. The hand pump is beautifully restored and rests in the meeting room of the current fire station as a reminder of how we came to be.
Members of the Sauk City Community Fire Company (circa 1912) pictured with the 1866 hose cart and the “Andrew Proudfit” Steam Engine, also known as “the large engine”.
Sauk City was very progressive when it came to industry. Between 1923 and 1937 Henry Grass owned and operated a truck manufacturing company on Water St. in Sauk City where the Prairie Clinic currently stands today. It was known as the Grass Premier Truck Company. He built heavy trucks such as dump trucks and semi tractors for heavy work and hauling. At one time it was thought they had produced up to 5 fire trucks, but it is now believed only 3 were made, two of them were owned and operated by our very own Sauk City Volunteer Fire Department, which at the time was known as the Sauk Community Fire Company. The third fire truck was sent to an unknown fire department but thanks to a donation from the late Dave Deppe of Baraboo Wisconsin, the fire department now has all 3 fire trucks. These may be the only Grass Premier trucks still in existence.
