Solon Springs, WI, Fire Station Named After Longtime Member

Mar. 6—SOLON SPRINGS — What's in a name? In the case of the newly christened Bob Smith Station 1, the answer would be a half-century of service.

The fire station's new name was unveiled at the Solon Springs Volunteer Fire Department's banquet Feb. 15. Fellow firefighters decided to rename it in honor of Bob Smith, one of their own who is fighting an incurable form of cancer.

The dedication came as a surprise to Smith, 76.

"He was in tears," said Solon Springs Fire Chief Jonathon Brostowitz. "I think it hit him. He was happy. I think it was happy tears and it was full of emotions on all sides."

It's the first time a fire station in Solon Springs has been given a member's name.

"I appreciate that our community chose to celebrate Dad's life with him, not dedicating something to him after he's gone," said daughter Jenna Smith. "It was a gift to see him overwhelmed with gratitude and understanding that there were so many people that cared about him."

A coffee fundraiser is also supporting Smith. The first 100 bags of Solon Springs Volunteer Fire Department Fire House Coffee, Bob Smith Blend, sold out quickly at $18 per bag, with 100% of the profits going to the family.

Headwaters Roasting, the small-batch commercial roaster division of the Solon Springs-based coffee business U-Roast-Em,is taking preorders for another batch of the Bob Smith Bled through March 8. Preorders are being taken at The Little Gift House or by calling 715-378-4170.

Smith, a Vietnam veteran, has spent a half-century serving his community on the fire department.

"I've been there 35 years and he's been there, somewhere close to 55 years," said Chuck Walt. "He's a mechanic by trade and he knows how all the equipment works and he's out there helping, really, on just about every fire. Bob's either driving the tender or the rescue truck."

Brostowitz called Smith a jack-of-all-trades who knows everyone and always answers the call.

"They don't make people like Bob Smith. He's a one of a kind," Brostowitz said.

Smith, who worked as an equipment operator for the village of Solon Springs, is also a human GPS for the area.

"He's the guy that knows every street, every road in the town and the village and if there's questions about where you're going on a call, he's the guy that will clean that up for you and tell you where you need to go to," Walt said.

One of Walt's most vivid memories of Smith is from when Walt first started on the fire department. It was opening day of deer season and a call came in for an engulfed structure fire.

"Everyone else was out hunting except for Bob and I. We were the only two who showed up at the fire," Walt said.

It was a slippery, snowy day and Walt got there first. When Smith showed up, he said, "That was a big relief for me ... it was always a comfort to have somebody else there that had that kind of experience to back you up."

Even as he battles cancer, Smith continues to attend meetings and show up to calls.

"I think my dad will be giving generously of his time as long as he is able to," Jenna Smith said. "I don't even think he realizes how impactful his life has been on the community."

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