History
Creation of Fire Department
It happened in 1896. The exact reason isn't recorded, but it happened in 1896. Was it caused by a rash of fires? Perhaps.
Was it prompted by a death or serious injury in a fire? Maybe. The Village of Grafton had incorporated on the third of March.
Was that the driving force, since it seemed to be a logical follow-up? We don't know.
Committee Approval
A group of concerned men met on June 26, 1896 in a hall owned by R.E. Schnabel. The R.E.Schnabel Hall was located on the corner of 11th and Bridge or what is now the rear of the Grafton Bowl building. A committee was formed to draft a Constitution and By-Laws.
On July 1, 1896, they again met to approve and adopt the Constitution and By-Laws. The Village of Grafton and the surrounding area finally had a fire department.
Evolution of Department
Over the years, the department has evolved from what today might be considered a "rag-tag" outfit with its 64 members using crude tools, into a Fire and EMS department with its membership now using the very latest in modern firefighting equipment.
The department with its fully trained EMS personnel, also provides full rescue capabilities for the village and town.
Service & Membership
Striving to maintain its ability to provide full service to the community, the department is constantly seeking new members who have the will and desire to serve their fellow citizens.
Grafton Fire Department Chiefs | |
|---|---|
William Weber* | July 1, 1896 to July 14, 1899 |
| C. C. Doctor | July 14,1899 to July 13, 1900 |
| Joseph Sphen* | July 13, 1900 to Sometime in 1903 or 1904 |
| William Weber* | Sometime in 1903 or 1904 to July 8, 1904 |
| Joseph Sphen* | July 8, 1904 to July 13, 1905 |
| August Ploeger | July 14, 1905 to July 13, 1906 |
| Gust. Clausing | July 13, 1906 to July 12, 1907 |
| William Weber* | July 12, 1907 to July 14, 1911 |
| M.P. Hollrith | July 14, 1911 to July 11, 1913 |
| William Weber* | July 12, 1907 to July 14, 1911 |
| Otto Just | July 13, 1917 to July 9, 1920 |
| Charles Tillman | July 9, 1920 to November 11, 1921 |
| William Weber* | November 11, 1921 to July 11, 1924 |
| Henry Wegner | July 11, 1924 to August 12, 1924 |
| William Weber* | August 12, 1924 to July 10, 1925 |
| C. O. Melkers | July 10, 1925 to July 9, 1932 |
| William Weiss | July 9, 1932 to July 8, 1938 |
| William Hilgart | July 8, 1938 to July 12, 1961 |
| Carl Wegner | July 12, 1961 to December 9, 1987 |
| Richard Bulgrin | December 9, 1987 to December 14, 1995 |
| Lawrence Williams | January 1995 to December 12, 2002 |
| David Harvey | December 12, 2002 to 2010 |
| John Place | 2010 to 2013 |
| William Rice | 2013 to Present |
| * Served multiple times as Chief | |