The History of Spring Arbor Township
Fire Department

The earliest known record of the Spring Arbor Fire Department was given to the Spring Arbor Historical Committee in 1977 by Irene Doering Griewahn. Her father, George Doering and Lou Snyder tried their best to interest the town in a fire department (date unknown). They individually contacted approximately 250 homes in the village and surrounding area to conjure interest and to raise money for the project. The total unbelievable sum of $5.00 was raised. Consequently the project was dropped.

In 1947 the “great snow storm” stranded many travelers in our town. The college dorms and many homes were opened to house and feed the stranded motorists. There were two Greyhound buses and several 1940s automobiles stranded along M-60 in several inches of snow. A few weeks after “the storm”, Leland “Butch” Griewahn realized what a tragedy would exist if a fire should occur, since the Jackson Fire Department served Spring Arbor and the surrounding towns. One evening at John Fisher’s Garage, where several men congregated in the evening, Butch Griewahn proposed his plan for establishing a local fire department. They, Griewahn, Art Straw and others, incorporated the help of the town postmaster, Dorothy Cramer (Becky Cunningham’s mother), who could approach the local patrons when picking up their mail. Support was unanimous. So the “self appointed” committee started a “talking campaign.” At the next Township Board meeting (probably held at the 1903 Township Hall on Teft Road-now destroyed), Griewahn presented the idea to the Township Supervisor, James Folks, and board members: Max Videto Sr., Alice Barber, Arthur Crandell and Harry White.

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