Marge Hansen stood in the middle of a large group gathered together to cut the bright red ribbon at the newly remodeled and expanded Fire Station 2 in Hobart.
Hansen’s son, Herlof “Ted” Hansen, was stationed in a much smaller, older version of the building on Old Ridge Road when he was killed while on duty more than 20 years ago.
“I feel very good about this,” Hansen said Thursday of the building that will also serve as a police substation and community center. “My son spent a lot of time here.”
A part of Ted Hansen will live on there.
To commemorate Hansen, the Hobart Professional Firefighters Association Local 1641 donated a gear locker and Marge Hansen brought in his gear — hat, coat and boots — which she has kept at her house all these years.
Rich St. Myers, president of the local, said they’ll be put on display, probably in the community center portion.
“It’s a good home for it,” Hansen said of the gear. “I’ll let them have it for a while.
Also standing among the crowd at the ribbon-cutting were Barbara Sullivan and Tom and Patti Woronecki and their daughter Jennifer Woronecki-Ellis, all of whom were involved in the Neighborhood Spotlight program, which Mayor Brian Snedecor called the “nucleus” that spurred the reopening and remodeling of the fire station.
“There was a unified voice in this part of the city (that spoke during the Neighborhood Spotlight process) that wanted the fire station open,” Snedecor said. “I hope this will be phase one and it can continue to expand,” he said.
Neighborhood Spotlight was a year-long initiative funded by the Legacy Foundation and involving community members that focused on making improvements to the city’s northwest side.
“It’s so good to see the fire house open again. It gives us a feeling of security and safety,” Sullivan said.
The station was closed a few years ago due to a lack of staffing. The city has since hired more firefighters and St. Myers said four firefighters, a fire engine and an ambulance will be at the station at all times.
The Woronecki’s began pushing for the station to be reopened at city council meetings after their neighbor’s house burned down 1 1/2 years ago.
“The firefighters were wonderful, but I felt if this station was open at the time the outcome would have been different,” Patti Woronecki said.
“All that remained of the house were the studs,” she said.
Three months later another house in the neighborhood burned down, Patti Woronecki said. “It was kind of scary.”
Tom Woronecki pointed out that this station is close to schools and churches and the sports fields are right next to it.
“Paramedics are right here if someone gets injured,” he said.
He also noted there are no railroad tracks between Station 2 and city hall and the Maria Reiner Center for seniors, unlike with the closer Fire Station 1.
Councilman John Brezik, D-5th, who represents the northwest side, called the new station a landmark and a cornerstone that will bring more positive aspects to the west side.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful moment,” he said.
Fire Chief Brian Kerr said the firefighters will move into the station on Oct. 10.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
