The History of Spring Arbor Township
Fire Department

At the October 1947 town meeting the board authorized the purchase of the first fire department pumper. The John Bean pumper was purchased through Ogle Brothers Chevrolet dealership (John “Bud” Midgley was the salesman) along with a 2 ton Chevrolet truck.

At a meeting of the Spring Arbor Township board held on October 29, 1947, a motion was made by Harry White, supported by A.W. Crandell, that Spring Arbor Township purchase a John Bean pumper priced at $5,291.25 as per bid, to be mounted on a truck furnished by Spring Arbor Township, and that the Supervisor and Clerk be authorized to sign any and all necessary papers for purchase of same.
By later resolution the Township board passed on the purchases of a Chevrolet two ton truck from Everett E. Ogle, Spring Arbor, Michigan. The price of the vehicle was $1877.

The pumper had a high pressure pump with a 900 PSI booster line and carried 500 gallons of water. The truck and equipment was parked in Fisher’s Garage (formerly the Idyll Hour, presently Angels Among Us Child Care) on M-60 across from the cemetery.
In the beginning fire calls were answered by Irene Griewahn (Butch’s wife) and other volunteers who would call each fireman individually and yell “Fire, Fire.” You could see and hear the firemen exiting their place of employment and car horns blaring as they were on their way to the fire. Irene would serve cookies and coffee to all firemen on “night runs”!

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