updated 11/14/2013

Postville Fire Department, 1897

The Postville Fire Department is shown in the white duck trousers, red sweaters and blue military caps they wore at that time when on dress parade. At that time firemen in Iowa towns met regularly for field days and they included contests, feats, and dances.

This picture and identification of the firemen first appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on January 28, 1940. Everett Cook provided the picture to the Postville Herald. Everett Cook and his brother Burr Cook, joined the Postville Fire Department in 1935 and on their 50th year with the Department, they were honored for their total of 100 years of service to the Postville Department.

~source: original photograph, now in the Postville Public Library; names of firemen, their occupations & other text is from a ca1991 issue of the Postville Herald.
~contributed by Connie Ellis

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1898

The Postville Fire Department held their annual meeting for the election of officers last Monday evening. There was practically no opposition to the old officers, all of whom were re-elected. Following is the official roster:

Chief - Chas. Sonnkalb
Assistant Chief - P. J. Beucher
Sec'y and Treas. - Bert E. Tuttle
Foreman H. & L. - H. Nazett
Foreman Hose Co. No. 1 - J. Gregg
Foreman Hose Co. No. 2 - John M. Thoma

The department is now in excellent condition and the members all take a great interest in the meetings and practices.

~Postville Review, Friday, April 8, 1898
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1903

At the fire department's annual election Monday evening the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

Chief - Charles Sonnkalb
Asst. Chief - P. J. Beucher
Foreman H & L Co. - John Fangmeier
Foreman Hose Co. #1 - J. Hecker
Foreman hose Co. #2 - J. M. Thoma
Sec'y & Treas. - Bert E. Tuttle  

~Postville Review, Friday, 10 April 1903
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1905

The Postville Fire Department held its annual election Monday evening when the old rascals were all turned out and the following new officers were elected for the ensuing year.

Chief - Lonnie Phillips
Asst. Chief - John Fangmeier
Sec. and Treas. - Fred J. Thoma
Foreman Hook and Ladder Co. - Andrew J. Schuler
Foreman Hose Co. No. 1 - John Hecker
Foreman Hose Co. No. 2 - C. Sonnkalb

~Postville Review, Friday, April 7, 1905
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1919

At the annual meeting of the Postville Volunteer Fire Department held on Monday evening at the fire house the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

Chief - Geo. W. Hein
Asst. Chief - John A. Palas
Sec. & Treas. - Wm. J. Klingbeil
Foreman Hook & Ladder Co. - Geo. Kohlmann
Asst. Foreman Hook & Ladder Co. - Otto Beucher
Foreman Hose Cart No. 1 - August Miller
Asst. Foreman Hose Cart No. 1 - Carl C. Sander
Foreman Hose Cart No. 2 - J. E. Welsh
Asst. Foreman Hose Cart No. 2 - Earl Abernethy
Auditing Committee: C. C. Sander and R. L. Pettit
Entertainment Committee: George Kohlmann, R. L. Pettit and C. C. Sander

~Postville Herald, Fri., April 11, 1919
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1920

Firemen Hold Annual Meeting

The Postville Volunteer Fire Department held their annual meeting at the city fire station on last Monday evening. After the usual routine business the following officers were elected for the coming year.

Chief - Harry N. Hanke Asst. Chief - Lloyd Putnam Secretary & Treasurer - Adolph Koevenig
Foreman Hook & Ladder Co. - B.F. Schultz Assistant Foreman - Eldo Kluss Foreman Hose Co. No. 1 - C.C. Sander Assistant Foreman - Henry Lange	Foreman Hose Co. No. 2 - Earl Abernethy Assistant Foreman - J.E. Welsch Foreman Chemical Engine - Geo. W. Hein Assistant Foreman - Adolph Koevenig

There are still a few vacancies in the fire department and anyone wishing to join the organization is asked to present his person either to the secretary or to any present members.

~Postville Herald, Friday, April 09, 1920
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1921

Fire Department Election

The Postville Volunteer Fire Department held its annual meeting on Monday evening and elected the following officers:

Chief - L.F. Putnam Asst. Chief - Wm. J. Klingbeil Secretary & Treasurer - Adolph Koevenig
Hook & Ladder Company Foreman - F.C. Ruckdaschel Asst. Foreman - Eldo Kluss Hose Co. No. 1 Foreman - Paul Sonnkalb Asst. Foreman - Henry A. Lange	Hose Co. No. 2 Foreman - Robt. Gordon Asst. Foreman - Ed Poesch Chemical Engine Company Foreman - John A. Palas Asst. Foreman - Geo. W. Hein

~Postville Herald, April 07, 1921
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1927

Annual Meeting of Postville Fire Dept.

The annual meeting of the Postville Fire department was held at the fire house on Monday evening. Wm. J. Klingbeil and Luver C. Schultz having served ten years as members of the department were each voted an honorable discharge. There are now ten vacancies in the membership of the department, and it is the first time in history of the department that the number of vacancies has not been exceeded by applications for membership.

Following is a complete roster of the department and elected officers for the ensuing year:

Chief - John Powell Asst. Chief - A.W. Bush Secretary & Treasurer - J.T. Melvold
Hook & Ladder Company Foreman - Otto C. Sanders Assistant - F.C. Ruckdaschel Members - Cloy Schultz, LeRoy Wagner, Roy Welzel Hose Cart No. 1 Foreman - Paul Sonnkalb Assistant Foreman - Henry Lange Plugman - Robert Gordon Nozzleman - Earl Abernthy & Ed Pooesch Line Foreman - Chas. Wegner Linemen - Dr. A. Folsom & Adolph Koevenig	Hose Cart No. 2 Foreman - Lloyd Putnam Plugman - Louis Koevenig Nozzlemen - Peter Meland & Verni Schultz Line Foreman - John Sawvell Linemen - Chas Ohloff, Leonard Casten, B.C. Farrington Chemical Engine Company Foreman Chemical Truck - Jack Casten Assistant Foreman - Herman Schutta Members - E.E. Kluss, Ed F. Schroeder, Lorence Wilke, Gerhardt Renken.

~Postville Herald, April 07, 1927
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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1931

Annual Meeting of Postville Fire Dept.

At the annual meeting of the Postville Volunteer Fire Department the officers were elected and assignments of members as follows:

Chief, J. W. Powell
Asst. Chief, Elbe Christofferson
Secretary & Treasurer, A. E. Ellis

Squad No. 1
Foreman, F. C. Ruckdaschel
Driver, Keith Gray
Nozzlemen, Harvey Christofferson and Elmer Meyer
Linemen, Emmett Schroeder and Phillip Schmitz
Hook and Ladder, Elmer Sander and A. E. Ellis

Squad No. 2
Foreman, L. F. Putnam
Driver, Ed Poesch
Nozzlemen, E. K. Ruckdaschel and Roy Wagner
Linemen, Erwin Klingbeil and Arno Schutte
Hook and Ladder, Cloy Schultz, Leonard Casten and J. T. Melvold

~Postville Herald, Thur., May 7,1931
~contributed by Reid R. Johnson

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