Posted: 5/14/03

Fire department masquerade ball was a FL social highlight

(Editorís Note: The following Reflections column was first published on January 29, 1981 and is reprinted here as part of the newspaperís on-going coverage during its 100th year. This Reflections column is in tribute to the author who died on Friday, Feb. 7, 2003.)

Elsie Vogel
Times Staff Correspondent

As you started to read this column, if you heard the fire siren blow, you might wonder where the fire is. In a few moments, if the racing truck with its wailing siren and flashing lights, accompanied by the police car and emergency trucks, passed your house, you would relax as the sounds recede in the distance. You realize there is no danger to your neighborhood.

Our local well-trained fire fighters accompany the fire truck. They carry on a tradition started by 22 civic-minded men who formed the Forest Lake Volunteer Department, June 5, 1922.

Last week I wrote about the Departmentís origin and the tremendous job it did fighting fires with its early equipment.

The firemen carefully recorded the minutes of their meetings and one entry, made at their third meeting, will be the basis for a large part of this story: ìmotion made and seconded that the entertainment committee go ahead in giving a fireman dance.î

Made and seconded in 1922, that motion started another tradition that was not only fun for the townspeople, but was a fundraiser for the Department.

Early Dances

The first dance report by chairman Milton Bickel stated: $135 dance receipts, $42.95 expenses, leaving a profit of $92.05. It was a very successful dance. (They didnít pay much for a band those days.)

All dances were money makers except one. The dance was held May 14, 1927, at the screened-in pavilion on the lakeshore and they lost $4.10. Must have been a cold night!

Dances were also held at the theatre and the Legion Hall. They had several dances during the year, with Easter Monday, Thanksgiving night and New Yearís Eve as popular choices, but the first masquerade ball was held the third week in January, 1924.

Masquerade Ball

In January and February, a Minnesotan sorely needs an escape from the winter doldrums. A few years ago, attending a Masquerade Ball was a little ìwinter madnessî fun.

Preparations for the Ball

During the 1950s and 60s the masquerades were at the Melody Ballroom, Legion Club and VFW Club.

ìMighty were the preparationsî would describe some dancers. Immediately after the masquerade ball, they were planning costumes for the next year.

We had dancers who became inspired about a costume the day of the dance and would scurry around borrowing shoes, vests or accents for authenticity.

Then we had a classic example of a ìvery last minuteî group. They simply took down the living room drapes, dressed as Arabian sheiks and won a prize.

There was always the husband who rebelled against ìdressing up,î but with his wife and friends making dire threats he would ìdressî and by the end of the evening he was the life of the party.

At the Ball

From the moment the strange, beautiful, clever and sometimes weirdly costumed dancers started to arrive, until the Grand March, it was a fun time.

Hiding behind a mask made even the most shy person bold and uninhibited.

There were most unlikely combinations of people doing the ìbutterflyî dance. A matador could be swinging Goldilocks in his right arm and the Queen of Hearts on his left.

A ìcircle two stepî got everybody mixed up.

Imitating TV commercials was a good theme for costumes. How about the local group in 1960 that won a prize for, ìI dreamed I went to the Firemenís ball in my Maidenform braî (the fellows were a riot), or the dancing package of Old Gold cigarettes and a book of matches.

There were many cleverly costumed couples, but the George Hawkinsons always were the admiration of the crowd for their ideas.

One unforgettable evening they appeared as two outhouses complete with the cut out moon and corncobs hanging on the door. That one will always remain a classic.

Groups

You really could let your imagination go if a large group created their costumes together. They had parts for everyone and these were acted out all evening.

Dancers, dressed as bowling pins were knocked down by a bowling ball. ìCheaper by the Dozen,î became Mom and Dad with lots of mischievous kids.

Authentic-looking cannibals came with real bones in their noses!

Friendly Competition

The judges usually had a difficult time selecting winners among a group from Wyoming and several local groups.

A Chinese New Year, complete with a colorful dragon; trolls, Robin Hood and his merry band of men were a few of the ideas from Wyoming.

Hours and hours of sewing went into the costumes when they appeared as Indians. I love the story about the Indian chief headpiece made and worn by Betty Isaakson.

She used white turkey feathers, courtesy of Clarence Fedjeís turkeys, but a few hours before the dance she sent word she needed four more left-handed feathers from the wings. The Fedjes obligingly chased down a turkey. That is an example of the accuracy and care that went into some costumes.

Grand March

Round and round they walked in rhythm to the music, the humorous next to the grand, the silent mummy next to the boisterous group, as the crowd observed and the judges appraised.

Soon it was over and everyone relaxed and danced until 1 a.m. Once again, ìwe had a ballî at the Firemenís Masquerade Ball.

Fire Comes First

One masquerade ball was interrupted by, of all things, a fire. With all the firemen assembled under one roof, they quickly answered the call.

The people who had the fire will always have a story to tell about the gypsies, scarecrows, a Nazi General and even a big-bosomed lady in blue who put out their fire.

Smelling a little smoky, the men returned to enjoy their interrupted evening... thatís class!

Firemenís DanceÖ1981

Our firemen still carry on the traditional fund raising Firemenís Ball. This year it will again be an ìOld Time Discoî at the VFW Club, Saturday, Feb. 21. The door prize is $250 cash. Buying a ticket is one way to show the fellows your appreciation of their efforts to protect your city.

Whose Got the Bell?

In 1940, G.M. Picotte had the job of tearing down the original white frame fire hall. The only thing that the firemen wanted to keep as a momento was the big brass bell that hung in the belfry.

Before Picotte could give the firemen their keepsake, someone ìborrowedî it... I know itís a long time ago, but the fellows would appreciate having it back. Would the borrower please return the bell to the fire station? No questions asked.

Firemenís Wives

While their husbands are responding to a call, there are sometimes anxious moments for the wives.

The men are well trained, but there is always the danger of injury, smoke inhalation, explosions and unknown factors when entering a burning building.

The wives of todayís firemen have the same anxieties as did the wives of the charter members. The wife of one of the original members recalls vividly her first exposure to being a firemanís wife.

As Hildur and Art Anderson returned from their honeymoon in northern Minnesota on the afternoon of June 30, 1923, they could see the thick black smoke of the Carpenter oil fire as far as 30 miles away.

Art dropped his new bride off at the house and hurried to help fight the fire. Hildur sat by their upstairs window with a clear view of this raging fire, only about a block away.

The wives have always supported the men, even if it was only helping them find their socks and glasses as they hurried to get dressed for a fire in the wee hours of the morning.

Speaking as the wife of a retired fireman, I know the gals are also very proud of their husbands.

Volunteer Firemen

The early volunteer firemen were mostly men who manned their businesses alone. They would lock their doors to respond to a call. They were quick to get dressed in the middle of a cold sleety winter night and go to their firey task.

They returned perhaps several hours later, tired and sometimes chilled to the bone under their damp clothing.

In the spring, at times it was one grass fire after another. They would return from one fire, barely get the tank truck filled with water and go out again.

The civic-minded firemen of today quickly respond to all calls and are exposed to the same dangers and experiences.

They are probably fighting grass fires in the same area as their predecessors, but with a few differences, the equipment.

Modern Equipment

We find five fire trucks in our modern firehall at 150 SE 11th Ave. There are two pumpers, three tankers and a rescue vehicle. The men are anxiously awaiting the new fire truck, due in June. It is called a Ladder-Squirt, a pumper which has the ability to reach our many-storied buildings.

The new Hurst Jaws of Life, purchased for the Department by VFW Post 4210, is a very important piece of life saving equipment.

Our firemen made 212 runs last year and have spent many hours in training.

At least 10 to 12 men have put in over 100 hours at the various schools.

The men also receive a much-deserved hourly wage while in duty at a fire.

Fire Chiefs

I would like to mention the men who did such outstanding work as Chiefs of the Forest Lake Fire Department: Tom Rolseth Sr., Fritz Stille, Joe Schmidt, Roy Bixby, Wally Houle, Art Jensen, Del Branum and our present Fire Chief Darryl Nelson, with Joe Houle and John Westlund, as Assistant Chiefs.

July 4th Parade 1981

This year as we watch our July 4th parade, letís give the boys a big hand as they pass in review. Theyíll undoubtedly be riding that new Ladder-Squirt for all of us to see.

I think the firemen are a great bunch of fellows and we should let them know we appreciate their protection.

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