Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Berne Fire Department |
Description |
Berne Fire Department - This is a photo of the Berne, IN fire department posing in front of the Berne Community Auditorium. This picture can be found printed on page 38 of the Souvenir Edition of the Berne Witness of 03 Sep 1926. You can see that the auditorium was constructed of red brick with multi-paned windows that had middle sections that could be tipped out to allow for air flow. The awning over the entrance had colored glass pendants hanging around the outer edge that were lighted from behind to produce a colorful glow. This building has now been remodeled with a Swiss facade and serves the community as a public library. There are two trucks being used in the photo. The one on the left has "CHEMICAL NO.1" printed on the side. It's smaller than the truck on the right, but still has a reel with hose on it and a long extension ladder fastened to the side. There's evidently a step on the back of the truck because there are two men standing on it. Evidently, these trucks weren't designed to carry passengers. The other firemen had to stand on the running board or the step if they wanted to hitch a ride to the fire. The truck on the right is hard to describe because there are so many men standing on it, but you can see that both trucks have the Model T look to them, with their wheels with the wooden spokes and hoods with the vents on the side. All the men are dressed in the same uniform with billed caps. In the distance behind the 2nd truck you can see a 2 story house with a hip roof and gable window in the roof. A smaller window is below the roofline under the gable, with a larger window to the left. You can just make out a porch roof under the left window. This is the home of Clarence and Lorine Sprunger, built circa 1919, currently owned by Steve and Kathy Rausch. Trees block some of the view, but in the distance beyond the back of this house, is another larger house. You can see multiple roof lines and this is the Dr. Amos Reusser home, owned currently by Steve Hult. The men are identified in the Souvenir Edition of the Berne Witness of 1926 left to right as: Andrew Sprunger, Louis Niederhauser, Theodore Sprunger, Walter Reusser, Wesley neuenschwander, Chester Michaud, Chris Hilty, Grover Moser, Lawrence Yager, George Braun, John Hilty, Leonard Baumgartner, Frank Amstutz, Sam Nussbaum David Stauffer, Elmer Baumgartner, ferdinand Steiner, Eli Luginbill, Paul Felber and Emil Liechty. |
Catalog Number |
2022.009.07 |
People |
Sprunger, Andrew Niederhauser, Louis Sprunger, Theodore Reusser, Walter Neuenschwander, Wesley Michaud, Chester Theodore "C.T." Hilty, Chris Moser, Grover Cleveland, Sr. Yager, Lawrence Braun, George Hilty, John J. Baumgartner, Leonard Amstutz, Frank Nussbaum, Sam Stauffer, David Baumgartner, Elmer Steiner, Ferd Luginbill, Eli A. Felber, Paul Liechty, Emil |
Search Terms |
Berne Community Auditorium Berne Volunteer Fire Department |
Year Range from |
1921 |
Year Range to |
1926 |
Classification |
Automobiles Buildings Exteriors Men Organizations Social & Personal Activity Transportation Houses |
Subjects |
fire engine fireman homes |