Westmont, Illinois
Date Issued: October 15, 2018
“We were so happy to see so many families here to help us celebrate our 95th Anniversary,” said Fire Chief Dave Weiss. “The celebration was a huge success and I want to thank everyone involved.”
The Westmont Fire Department celebrated its 95th Anniversary and Fire Prevention Open House at the Johanik Fire Department Headquarters on Saturday, October 13. The event featured fire safety presentations, a collection of newly created Fire Department historical scrapbooks, and the unveiling of a new Westmont Fire Department mural. Chief Weiss introduced guest speakers Mayor Ron Gunter and Trustee Marie Johanik-Guzzo who then assisted with the unveiling of the anniversary mural.
“I want to give a huge thanks to Jenny Babyar and her husband Larry,” Chief Weiss added. “Jenny was asked to create our anniversary mural, and it turned out perfect. Then, she and Larry offered to make a celebration dinner for all of the Fire Department staff and they assembled a team to of volunteers to create a wonderful, homemade bar-b-q dinner for everyone. I can’t thank them enough.”
The mural features 11 fire department helmets with the names of each Fire Chief as well as the first fire truck purchased by the Village of Westmont in the early 1920’s and the most current fire engine number 183. The mural will be hung in the foyer of the Johanik Fire Department Headquarters at 6015 S. Cass Avenue.
During Trustee Guzzo’s remarks, she described growing up as the daughter of the Westmont Fire Chief. Her father was involved with the Westmont Fire Department for four decades serving from the 1950’s through the 1990’s.
The event also featured the debut of five Fire Department historical scrapbooks that were coordinated by Diane Weiss, wife of Chief Weiss. The scrapbooks showcase historical photos and news clippings from the beginning of the department through present. The scrapbooks will be on display at the Village Hall on the second floor through the end of October, along with a display case of Fire Department historical memorabilia.
Pictures from the event can be found in the Village of Westmont’s website photo gallery at https://villageofwestmont.smugmug.com/2018/2018-10-13-Westmont-Fire-Department-95th-Anniversary/i-NwvSMgb. For more information regarding the Westmont Fire Department, call 630-981-6400.
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont
Communications Director/Public Information Officer
lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
