The Town of Sheboygan will celebrate its 75th anniversary Saturday, July 20 with a parade, medical helicopter, food trucks, live music and more.

In 1944, like most townships across the country, there was not enough funding to pay for local fire protection. However, the need for proper fire protection was increasing with every new building being constructed. Thus, the Town of Sheboygan Volunteer Fire Department was formed.

Members in 1944 operated different equipment, learned different tactics and operated on a much different budget. However, leadership and community support is much the same as it was back then.

A fire bell notified members of a structure fire when our department started, thus members needed to live within hearing distance of the station bell. Training was far less technical as our understanding of fires was far different in 1944. Fires were cooler, spread slower and didn’t involve such toxic chemicals as today’s fires. However, members both now and then volunteered their time and risked their lives for their community.

The celebration will take place at the fire station at 3911 County Y, Sheboygan, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at the old Menards parking lot on J and heads west on J to Y, then south on Y to Fireman’s park.