Materials From Old North Judson Fire House Used for Memorial Wall, Fire Chief Shares Grant Success

Posted on May 10, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The North Judson Fire Department plans to commemorate their old firehouse with a monument in front of the new building. At Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting, Fire Chief Joe Leszek explained that some material from the old firehouse was retrieved during the demolition process.

Leszek told members, “When the old firehouse was torn down, some of our members went over there and we salvaged some of the limestone and it was always our plan to build a small little memorial wall.”

Chief Leszek said that Brian Allen Masonry is the company being utilized to erect the wall in front of the flagpole outside the new fire station.

In addition to informing members about the memorial wall, Leszek stated that members of the department are constantly working to find and apply for grants in order to bring in some extra funds.

He announced the Starke County Community Foundation recently awarded the department a grant worth $5,673.75 and mentioned they’re currently waiting to hear back about whether or not they’ve received a $3,500 grant from Starke United.

Leszek explained that last year with grant money received through the Community Foundation and REMC, the department was able to purchase new brush and extrication suits. They’re planning to use the grant money this year to buy boots and gloves for the suits.

Leszek added that the department has acquired more than $11,000 in grant funding that they’ve been able to use to supplement their budget at no cost to the town. He said they will continue to seek out those opportunities in order to keep money coming in for needed equipment and potential fire station additions, such as a new sign.

North Judson Fire Department to Attend Training Session in Valparaiso

Posted on January 22, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Last week, North Judson Fire Chief Joe Leszek shared that the Fire Department will soon be attending a nearby training session.

At the most recent North Judson Town Council meeting, Leszek told members that the AMKUS and Task Force Tips Rescue Systems training center was recently installed in Valpo.

“We’re excited about that, Valparaiso Fire uses it for their training center.” Leszek said, “It gives us the capability to a lot of ventilation work and simulate cutting roofs and things like that indoors so we don’t have to do it outdoors right now at this time of year.”

Leszek explained that session will take about three to four hours. He said few local stations will help cover the area in their absence and some NJ Firefighters will be sticking behind to man the station.

The North Judson Fire Department will be attending the session on Sunday, January 28th.

9/19/2015 9th Annual North Judson Firehouse Run

NJ History - Fire Department

     At a meeting on October 7, 1889 they passed a resolution for the organization of “Fire Company No. 1 of North Judson” consisting of not less than 12 or more than 20 able bodied men, not under 18 years of age with consent of their parents, and who shall be exempt from all road and street work for their services as firemen.  It also provided a penalty for failure of any member to attend a monthly meeting for practice or work in case of a fire, for offense 50 cents and $1.00 for a second offense and may be expelled, except in case of sickness of unavoidable absence.

     The first members of the “Fire Company” were Louis Foust, Captain; A. J. White, Lieutenant; and Henry Replogle, Sergeant.

     On December 4, 1889, the board approved the purchase of a hand engine for the Fire Company to be paid for by popular subscription.  This was the first piece of fire equipment owned by the town.  It has been preserved and now housed in the present fire station, located at the corner of Main Street and Keller Avenue, and build in 1952 without cost to the taxpayers of North Judson by the members of the department.

     The hand engine is pictured on another page.

     During a disastrous fire in the business of Knox, some few years after the hand engine, or better called hand pumper, was purchased, a telegram was received calling for help and in response it was loaded on a railroad flat car and taken there by a switch engine and crew then stationed at North Judson.  Accompanied by several of our local firemen and citizens a helpful and heroic service was rendered.

     When a fire destroyed, on Christmas morning, December 25, 1947, the largest and best business block in our town, the Knox and several other neighboring fire departments came to our aid.  The loss included the Two Joes large general store, Post Office, Dr. Davis Dental and Weninger Insurance Offices, Blough’s Jewelry and Wakemans Drug stores, and several apartments on the second floor.  The building was located at the S.W. corner of Central Avenue and Lane Street, the present location of the Two Joes Store. 

I was lucky enough to find a better photo of the steam powered pumper that was purchased circa 1900. The gentlemen in the picture were identified as: Charlie Summers (?), Henry Schricker, Manual Knachel, Frank Eatinger, Unknown, and Joe Dolezal. (From "A Photographic History of Starke County, Indiana" compiled by Marvin Allen.)

North Judson and San Pierre Fire Departments Support Student Council and Community

Published: November 20, 2014
By: Mitch Columbe, WKVI
 
The North Judson and San Pierre fire departments donated $100 each to the N.J.-S.P. Middle School Student Council for their community service project. Students raise money throughout the year to help families in the community in need of assistance. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the fire departments are always generous to the school and support families in need each year. She adds it is a little different from a canned food drive.

“The middle school Student Council adopts families and it’s a shopping trip the kids go out and shop with their sponsors,” said Back.

Johnson says the families always appreciate the extra help, and the school looks forward to the project every year.

Giving Back to Starke County

Join Jr. & the Igniters and the North Judson Fire Department on Saturday, April 20th, to raise food and funds for Community Services of Starke County and the Starke County Food Pantry.  Everyone will be gathering at the North Judson American Legion Post 92 starting at 7 p.m. and Jr. & the Igniters will take the stage from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

You must be at least 21 to attend.  Cover charge is $5 cash or $5 worth of non-perishable food items.