Our History

An article published in the Copper Island Sentinel on Dec 5, 1987, stated that until 1948 Sherman Township was protected by a handcart with a soda-acid fire extinguisher and a hose cart. This lasted until 1948-1950 when Carl Jurmo, a retired Detroit fireman, decided to reorganize the department. Richard Kauppi aided Carl Jurmo in collecting money to aid in financing the department. The Mohawk Bank loaned the cash necessary beyond the amount of available finances. The department purchased a second hand 1947 Jeep for use as a fire fighting vehicle with three sections of hose.

 

Township firefighters got along with just the Jeep until 1973 when they purchased a 1000 gallon pumper from Lake Linden. In March of 1978 they purchased a second pumper with a smaller capacity. The Jeep was then equipped with a water tank. At this time, the fire hall was a small building that had originally been the pumphouse of the Mohawk Mining Company but due to the purchases of new equipment, the fire hall was deemed insufficient to house the fire department. In August of 1978, the township board approved construction of a new building, which is the current fire hall. It was the first public building built in Gay since the public school was constructed across the street from the firehall 50 years earlier. When this new building was dedicated, Melvin Backman was the fire chief; Hubert Anderson, assistant chief; Warren Keckonen, treasurer; and Glenn Hallfast, secretary. Department members consisted of William Blatnik, Leo Ricard, Earl Widrick, James Pelto and Edward Keckonen. 

 

The Auxiliary was organized in 1971. The first slate of officers consisted of Arbutus Roos as president; Beatrice Gustafson as vice president; Avalon Erkkila as secretary, Martha Wiikki as treasurer and Vivi Pelto as assistant treasurer. The purpose of the Auxiliary was to have dinners, rummage sales, bake sales and to sell rag carpets and other items at bazaars to be held in the community center. The proceeds were to be used to assist the fire department in obtaining fire fighting equipment, in repairing the fire station and other projects needing their help.

 

The Auxiliary is currently active with fundraising projects that assist the fire department.

 

(Monette, Clarence J., The Gay Michigan Story,  1988, pp 38-39).