Archbold-German Township Fire Department outlines plans for 150th-anniversary weekend

Assistant Fire Chief Kyle Brodbeck told the Archbold Village Council on May 4 that the Archbold‑German Township Fire Department will mark its 150th anniversary the weekend of Aug. 7–9 with events intended to honor past and present members and engage the community.

Brodbeck, who led a presentation on the department’s founding and mission, traced the department’s origin to May 24, 1867, noted a partnership with German Township established in 1923 and said EMS was added to the department’s services in 1955. He described the evolution of apparatus and station locations and summarized the department’s fire prevention and education programs.

The weekend’s schedule, as presented, will include an evening for past and present members at the Sauder Speakeasy, a parade, open house, a concert and a drone show. The department also plans a joint celebration at Ruihley Park to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary. Brodbeck said the events are intended both to celebrate the history and to give current residents a chance to see the department’s operations and outreach.

Brodbeck framed the department’s work as a community service beyond firefighting: “Not every call has been to put out a fire or physically save a life, but each call provides the department with an opportunity to make someone’s worst moment a little better,” he said. He added that the work is a calling aimed to “bring comfort where there is fear, order where there is chaos, and hope where it feels like none is left.”

Council did not take any formal action on the presentation. The department’s planned events are scheduled for Aug. 7–9, 2026.