Bio: Olson, Norman – Honored as Fireman (Mar 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Olson, Colby

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 23 Mar 1977

Norman Olson, Abbotsford, was honor Saturday night during the Abbotsford Fire Department’s annual dinner held at the Olde Cedar House in Abbotsford.

Olson received a plaque from Fire Chief Bill Colby for his many years of fine service to the community as a firefighter and its fire chief. Olson started on the fire department in 1934 and was it fire chief from 1948 to 1970.

“Firefighting has changed a great deal over the years”, Olson said. When he first became a fireman back in 1934 he said the department had one annual doings a year to recruit men over 18 to join the department “At one time there were over 100 names on the roll call,” Olson said.

Because the department today has better equipment and its firemen receive regular training, that great of a number of firefighters aren’t need today. Abbotsford has about 25 firefighters now on its roll call he said.

When he became a fireman, the department was using a 1930 chemical truck and three hand pull carts to put out fires. In 1936 the city bought its first pumper; in 1952 it obtained its second one. An ambulance was purchase, and in 1970 it bought another new truck.

While reminiscing about some of his experience as a firefight and ambulance driver, Olson said it was rough trying to find enough men who could drive the ambulance because of their jobs and availability. He said he made 360 trips with te ambulance and delivered three babies. Aonther time Olson said he arrived home after an emergency call and his wife wouldn’t let him in the hous. Through the closed door she told him to contact the doctor for medication before he could come back into the house.

According to Olson’s story the person he transported in the ambulance has a contagious disease and the doctor called the Olson home to alert Mrs. Olson that her husband needed medication immediately so he wouldn’t get the disease. He said he took the medication and then his wife let him back in the house.