A Need for a Fire Department

For the first eighteen years, Nappanee had very little fire protection. In 1878, Nappanee started to raise money for a fire company and they're fourth of July celebration was like never before; it had baseball, foot racing, climbing greased poles and catching greased pigs. All proceeds went to benefit the fire department. In 1888, the Nappanee News reported the need for a fire department. A business owner took precautions by having large barrels placed on their roofs. Many thought the whole village was a fire trap because all the buildings were wood.