Crime & Safety

Historical Society Exhibit Highlights 125-Year History of Lemont Firefighters

Old photos, uniforms and equipment are currently on display at the Lemont Area Historical Society Museum, 306 Lemont St.

The Lemont Area Historical Society has unveiled a new museum exhibit that pays tribute to the 125th anniversary of the Lemont Fire Protection District.

The anniversary, celebrated in 2011, is highlighted in a small collection of photographs, equipment and uniforms in the Historical Society Museum at the Old Stone Church, 306 Lemont St.

Among the items on display: EMT and firefighter patches throughout the years, photos from the 1984 refinery explosion at Union Oil Company, a portable dispatch unit from the 1970s and a poster for the department's 1933 Golden Jubilee Celebration.

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Many of the items are on loan from Richard Stech, a retired assistant chief who served 35 years with the Lemont Fire Protection District. Late last year, he contacted Historical Society Board Member Rose Yates, who helped him put together the exhibit.

"We were looking to get some more exposure and give people a visual history of Lemont firefighters," he said.

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Stech is a longtime member of the Lemont Firemen's Association, an organization of retired and current firefighters. One of the group's primary goals, he said, is to preserve the history of the fire district.

"I've been hanging around the station since 1967, so I've gotten to know a lot of people, and I've seen a lot of things," Stech said. "I don't think people always appreciate their town's history, but it's so important to share it with the public so it doesn't become lost."

The exhibit was unveiled last month during the Historical Society's "Fire and Ice" event. Guests also enjoyed a viewing of the Lemont Fire Protection District's anniversary video—a photo slideshow organized by current Lemont Fire Lt. Dave Boersema.

CLICK HERE to watch the 125th anniversary video

Sue Donahue, the Lemont Historical Society's museum coordinator, said the exhibit has been a welcome addition.

"We're always looking for new ways to showcase Lemont's history, and with the 125th anniversary, it was just a great idea," she said.

Lemont's 1938 Peter Pirsch Pumper

For Stech, the symbol of the Lemont Fire Protection District's long history is its 1938 Peter Pirsch Pumper—the antique fire engine often seen at village parades, car shows and open houses.

The Peter Pirsch Pumper was purchased in 1938 by the Lemont Volunteer Fire Department. It was the first new piece of equipment in the department's history.

The vehicle—Engine No. 1—was one the scene of every major fire in Lemont until it was decommissioned in 1970.

In 1980, the Firemen's Association took over ownership of the engine with hopes of restoring it to its original condition.

Lemont Fire District Trustee Mike Kasperski—who also serves as president of the Firemen's Association—said nearly $50,000 has been spent on the vehicle's restoration.

"That truck is probably the single most important piece of history the district has left," he said.

A photo and brief history of the engine are on display in the Historical Society's exhibit.

History of Lemont Fire Protection District

The Lemont Fire Department was incorporated on March 14, 1886, following the completion of the town's water main system. The department consisted of two companies of 11 men each. They operated out of two houses until 1956, when the department moved to 416 Main St.

By 1973, the Lemont Fire Protection District had grown to employ 52 active members and cover 33 square miles in Will, DuPage and Cook counties. In 1976, Fire Station 1 was constructed on New Avenue to accommodate the growth.

Today, the district covers an area of approximately 40 square miles, serving the Village of Lemont and portions of Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook and Homer Glen.

The Lemont Historical Society's museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.


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