NP Fire Department offering history in a fun way

In a special event, the New Prague Fire Department will open the doors of its stations at 505 Fifth Ave. NW at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, to area residents. The two hour community event will allow the public to find out about the history of the all volunteer department, that originated in 1884.

The New Prague Area Historical Society is helping with the event. “It is a fun and casual way to share area history,” said Tasha Topka Kallal of the historical society. She describes the open house as an “interactive show and tell.”

While the fire department will have an impressive collection of its own artifacts, people are encouraged to bring with them stories, photos or memorabilia of family members or friends that served in the department.

Retired New Prague Fire Chief Jim Becker will be doing a short program beginning at 9:30 a.m. He explained his presentation will include information about the fire department’s Women’s Auxiliary, the various stations that have housed the department, notable fires the firefighters battled, how firefighters were notified when needed and years of service by area families, whose history is intertwined with the department. There will also be the type of gear firefighters have worn and the department’s equipment, from its still operational hand pumper to its new ladder truck.

Becker has been collecting information about the New Prague Fire Department, which was founded on April 26, 1884. Among them are photos, articles and the original minutes from 1894. The department also had two...

To see more on this story pick up the April 27, 2017 print edition of The New Prague Times.