HR0168 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0168 LRB094 10898 CSA 41449 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Galena Fire Department, the oldest fire department in Illinois, celebrated its 175th birthday on February 1, 2005; and

WHEREAS, The Department is planning a series of events in August to celebrate the anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The Galena Fire and Protection Company was formed in 1830; since its inception, it has gone from a company with just a couple of fire hooks, ladders, axes, and buckets to the department it is now; and

WHEREAS, On November 8, 1836, the first fire department was organized with a roll of 66 members; from then on, there came to be several different fire departments throughout Galena; and

WHEREAS, On August 1, 1876, John Hellman was made chief director of all the fire stations in Galena; all five of these fire stations were made into what is now known as the "Fabulous Five"; and

WHEREAS, The Galena Fire Department became a mechanized force in 1917; the era of the "Fabulous Five" was closed in 1935 and reorganized into the present fire department on South Bench Street; and

WHEREAS, The Galena Fire Department has what is believed to be the oldest fire station in the State; it was built in an Italianate style; it has an overhung roof, corbels, and a watch tower; an antique fire engine is showcased within the fire station, the "Liberty", a hand pumper that arrived on January 5, 1855, from Philadelphia; the Liberty helped the Galena Fire Department for more than 50 years and is presently being restored; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Galena Fire Department on the occasion of its 175th anniversary and honor its current members for their efforts to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens of Galena; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Galena Fire Department as an expression of our esteem.