The Boys at the Fire Barn

During my fifteen years in Addison there was one group that I was very confident would always have my back, the boys at the fire barn. The fire barn was located directly across the street from the elementary school. While its true that it was a gathering place for political discourse, I was always sure that the men and women associated with the site were prepared to tackle any emergency that might present itself.

Most of the local news, both true and false, traveled through the fire barn. I never walked across the street to gather the news, but it always found its way across Addison Road to me. I welcomed some of the tales, but found others disturbing. I learned about people in the town, local successes and failures, who was doing what to whom, and the odds on the next millage passing.

When Addison had something to celebrate the boys strung a banner across the four main corners to put all visitors on notice – “come share in our celebration”. When the high school teams traveled off to championship games the fire trucks escorted them in and out of town. They were with them win or lose, but the horns sounded louder when we won.

The two elementary buildings that I was charged with were separated by Comstock Street. The fourth and fifth grade students housed in the “upper el” and had to cross this street many times a day. They crossed the street at the beginning and end of each day, to go to the cafeteria or library, and to head to the playground. Addison Products was down the street from the school. Comstock was used as a path for some semi-truck drivers as they delivered parts to the plant. I was concerned that one day one of my students might be struck by one of the trucks.

I wanted to close the road between the two schools during the school day and sought help from the village counsel. They couldn’t help me because the stretch of road brought in tax dollars from the State that they weren’t willing to part with. They suggested a meeting with the State and representatives from “The Products”. We held the meeting and “The Products” agreed to instruct all truck drivers to seek an alternative route.

During our negotiations, the fire chief, Bruce, said, “Bob you do what you think is best for the kids. I got your back. I can help you with the village fathers”. I never had to take him up on his offer, but I appreciated his support.

I hosted Christmas breakfast for my staff each year. More than once I had an elaborate invitation or announcement to help commemorate the occasion. One year I recruited two high school students to assist me. I instructed them to enter each classroom to make an announcement. One played the trumpet … “dot da da daaaa”! The second read a proclamation, “Hear ye – Hear ye …”, inviting each teacher to breakfast the following week. It was a grand event.

The following spring the staff turned the tables on me. I was in my office when “fire chief Bruce” burst in and said, “Come quickly! There’s something outside that you need to see!”. I ran outside with him and was met by the horns of the crew’s largest fire truck, and the cheers of over 500 students accompanied by a half dozen volunteer firefighters. When the cheers subsided, the students, teachers and firefighters sang happy birthday to me. It was a wonderful surprise!

A few years later one of my teachers, Clare, hit a deer on her way to school. She went into a neighboring house to call for help. She contacted her son-in-law who lived a few miles away. He was a member of the volunteer fire department and always ready to lend a hand. He arrived at the scene and discovered that the deer was badly hurt but still alive.

He didn’t bring a weapon to put down the deer, so he tried to smother it with a plastic bag. The deer put up a fight and in the end, firefighter Tim, gave up. He used his firefighter radio, described the scene, and called for back up. Don, a senior and more seasoned member of the fire crew, arrived with a rifle and put the doe down.

Tim didn’t allow his struggle with the deer to deter his rise through the ranks of the fire department. Ultimately, he became the fire chief and still leads the boys at the fire barn today. They remain an extremely important asset to the community and were important part of my time in Addison.