Topeka Fire Department’s 1929 Model A Ford.
Photo submitted by the Topeka Historical Society
Auburn “Red” Haggard, part of the VFD for 40 years.
Photo submitted by the Topeka Historical Society
depend on hydrants.
Much of the funding to purchase the
truck came from
local farmers. That
truck was in service
over 20 years. Today
it has been restored
by its Michigan owners and makes frequent appearances
in parades. There are
those who hope that
one day the truck will come home
to Topeka … permanently.
Fire-fighting equipment was
first stored at the old Town Hall.
The fire truck was kept in a make-shift
garage behind the hall. For a number
of years the stationhouse was on the
west side of South Main in the former Hoverstock Garage (also home to
Sprunger Brothers Manufacturing,
Skelgas, and Wiley’s Carbide Cutting Tools) building. In 1989, the old
station along with the adjacent Topeka Theater and telephone office was
demolished to make way for a new fire
station.
In 2000, Topeka established a Fireman of the Year Award in memory of
the late Auburn “Red” Haggard. Red
was an active member of the Topeka
VFD for 40 years.
Shipshewana Fire Department, on
the other hand, didn’t have their first
Shipshewana
Sale Barn Fire
Photo submitted
by Shipshewana
Fire Department
Topeka’s First Firemen
Photo submitted by the Topeka
Historical Society
Shipshewana’s 2nd Fire Station.
Photo submitted by Shipshewana Fire Department
The Hometown Treasure · Jan. ‘12 · pg 15