John Gittings
WiscNews
(TNS)
Jun. 26—The Kilbourn Volunteer Fire Department’s Fireman’s Dance is a tradition that dates back more than 130 years, and the tradition was added to this year with a vintage vehicle.
A 1927 Pirsch fire truck that the department has raised nearly $60,000 to refurbish was on display at the 133rd Annual Firemen’s Street Dance on Saturday. More than 100 donors, both individuals and organizations, have funded the project, which cost more than $60,000 and included a new radiator, repainting, engine, transmission and suspension work, along with numerous other repairs.
The Kilbourn Fire Department will use the vintage truck for current volunteer firefighters’ weddings, as well as funerals for former ones, former department member Dave “Gopher” Wimann said.
The Pirsch will not be used for firefighting. It was previously used for firefighting by the Delton and Briggsville Fire Departments, along with Kilbourn from 1927 to 1965.
The largest donation for the Pirsch project was $27,500 by the Gregory C. Van Wie Foundation. Other donors include the Bud Gussel Foundation, Kalahari Resorts owner Todd Nelson, The Keg and The Patio — a Wisconsin Dells bar that neighbors Kilbourn Fire, Tavern League of Wisconsin, Bank of Wisconsin Dells, Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park, Delton Fire Department, and Parker Schweda, a 10-year-old Dells resident who raised $100 by operating a lemonade stand across the street from the department headquarters.
“It is looking fantastic,” Wimann said during a speech at the dance, adding his gratitude to donors.
Obermeyer’s 41 Auto Body, a body shop in Slinger, performed the body work on the refurbished truck, Wimann said, and Foerster Signs did detailed painting, including “fancy gold leafing.”
Kilbourn Fire Chief Steve Smith said the department also used saved funds from the past few years to help pay for the Pirsch project, along with the donations and other fundraising efforts.
The Kilbourn Fire Department began fundraising for the project last July and called the fundraiser “100 for 100,” encouraging $100 or more donations by 100 or more donors. Wimann said in his speech that donations ranged from $10 and up for the project, and the department is still collecting donations. The department sold T-shirts commemorating the Pirsch truck at the dance.
The department also showed its new ladder truck, which can be lifted off the ground with hydraulics and features a ladder from the top that can elevate firefighters up to 100 feet to combat blazes in high-rise buildings.
Along with unveiling the vintage Pirsch and new truck, the department hosted an open house event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in which members of the volunteer organization showed area children firefighting basics with an electronic fire extinguisher training device and a low-pressure hose.
Fire inspector Jerry Wolfram said more than 70 people attended the open house, which is the most in its four-year history.
American Platinum, a Wisconsin-based band, performed covers of famous songs such as “Jump” by rock band Van Halen and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” by funk group The Gap Band.
Burger and bratwurst combos that included chips, a brownie and a pickle, along with a soda or beer, were sold by Kilbourn Fire Department members at the dance.
The dance began at 5 p.m. and weathered through a thunderstorm, lasting until around 10 p.m. Smith said rain shut down the event early in the evening last July.
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