Excerpts from NorthernStar.info:
A local initiative is taking shape in DeKalb as a foundation aims to establish a museum dedicated to preserving the rich history of the DeKalb Fire Department. Some of the items set to be displayed date back nearly 150 years, to the department’s founding in 1869.
The DeKalb Firefighters Historical Foundation, established four years ago, is working to safeguard the legacy of the fire department and its deep ties to DeKalb and Northern Illinois University. The foundation is currently raising funds to acquire a building that will serve as the museum’s home, according to Patrick Eriksen, a firefighter and paramedic with the department.
“The museum and the foundation were really created together,†Eriksen explained. “We’re approaching our 150th anniversary, and we’ve collected a wide range of artifacts—everything from old fire trucks and equipment to small historical items like vintage badges.â€
Originally founded as a volunteer department in 1869, the DeKalb Fire Department transitioned to a full-time force in 1904. Among the most valuable pieces in their collection is a rare vintage dispatch board, which uses a series of levers to produce a ticker tape that once helped determine emergency locations. According to Eriksen, only two such boards remain in the entire country.
“It’s really meaningful for me to carry on this tradition in a community I've always wanted to work with,†he said. “This is something special to me.â€
The fire department is currently in discussions with the city about a potential property, though details cannot be shared at this time, said Lieutenant Todd Stoffa, who leads the foundation. The team is exploring several options to move the project forward.
To help fund the museum, the department will host its fourth annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday. Admission will be $5 for adults, $3 for children aged 4 to 10, and free for those under 4. Tickets will be sold at the event.
All proceeds from the breakfast will go toward purchasing the museum space, as well as ongoing maintenance and infrastructure costs through the historical foundation. “Once we get past that stage, we may be able to use the funds for other purposes,†Eriksen added.
In addition to the breakfast, the event will feature an open house tour of Fire Station 1, a bounce house for kids, and a smoke trailer to promote fire safety awareness during Fire Prevention Month. Other activities will also be available.
The pancake breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at DeKalb Fire Department Station 1, located at 700 Pine Street. For more information, contact Adam Miller at 815-748-8649.
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