Letter read by John Hurley at the dedication of the newly constructed firehouse and meeting hall.

  We are gathered today to dedicate this fine new home of the Silver Creek Fire Department.  Yet, this is but another milestone in unselfish devotion in community pride.  Let’s turn back a few pages in history and see how this dream has become a reality.

  Back in 1850’s when the early settlers gave birth to Silver Creek, little did they visualize a settlement growing to such proportions. By the turn of the century, Silver Creek could boast of a sawmill, distillery, brewery, cheese factory, soda water factory, gristmill, blacksmith shop, saloon, store, school, and a church.  Wages were not high, only fifty cents a day, but prices weren’t high either.  For instance, Rietz’s rye sold for forty cents a gallon.  Even though the threat of fire lay in everyone’s mind, few means other than bucket brigades were able to avert disastrous losses.  It wasn’t until 1912 when the church burned, near what was the Billy Frauenheim farm that serious thought was given to organizing a volunteer fire department with what was then considered modern equipment.

  A group of dedicated citizens, headed by Otto Risse and Willie Gessner formed an organization called the Badger Club and rallied citizens to the promotion of worthy causes.  The members, whose names are all familiar, most of whom are descendants of original pioneers Walter Risse, Milton Hannert, Levi Hannert, Alex Schroeter, Alfred Schroeter, Raymond Schroeter, Henry Winter, Herman Schieferdecker, John Kohler, John Cill, and Peter Miller.

  By 1917 the first piece of fire fighting equipment was obtained, a two wheeled, soda acid hand-drawn rig.  Although, as today they were badly in debt, the Silver Creek Fire Department became a reality.  One of the early tests of their fire fighting prowess was when Herman Binder’s smoke house burned.  It behooves us to wonder whether all the hams and sausages were consumed by fire, or if the fire department had one of it’s first brat fries. 

  Incidentally, the fire house was in what is now Rollin Risse’s barn, so a two mile push and pull to the fire did work up a good appetite.  The official meeting hall was in Wille Gessner’s blacksmith shop at that time.

  In order to pay the debts, the community promoted dances and concerts which were given by the Risse Family Orchestra.  The community joined in giving several plays; namely “Blundering Billy” and “When Smith Stepped Out”.  These were played to “standing room only” crowds.  Frequent dances were given at Rietz’s Hall, above Risse’s Hardware Store and Tanck’s Hall, now Old Fort Silver to raise funds.

  In 1920 the fire department acquired its first permanent fire house on one acre of land obtained from Gertrude Rietz, which served until the present structure was built.

  Equipment was gradually modernized, by acquiring a Packard truck from Black River along with a portable pump, parts of which were later converted into a Ford chassis.  In 1959, the department acquired our present pumper from Cascade, a tank truck from Milwaukee and a utility truck from Barton.  A brand new pumper truck was purchased recently to bring up to modern standards the department we see now.

  Credit must be given to the untiring efforts of the fire chiefs, from Otto Risse and Alex Schroeter in the old days, down to Al Schladweiler, Ralph LaFever, Willard Hammen and Ralph Jung for the re-organizing and modernization of the department

  Not to be forgotten or overlooked is the very important cooperation of the ladies in the community.  It was through their efforts that much was contributed to the department.  Since the Ladies Auxiliary was organized in 1957, their contribution to the success of the department has been outstanding.  Many pieces of equipment were purchased through their efforts and presently all new tables and chairs and kitchen equipment are the latest items.

  God bless the members of the Silver Creek Fire Department, both men and women and let us pray for continued success and progress.

-John Hurley