Iowa Fireman’s Association convention opens in Maquoketa

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By Sheri Melvold | Wednesday, September 03, 2008 |

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — It’ll be hard to avoid seeing fire trucks and hearing sirens this week in Maquoketa.

The Iowa Firemen’s Association will bring its 130th annual convention to Maquoketa, with an expected 2,500 participants. The gathering began Wednesday and continues through Sunday.

This is the third time for Maquoketa to play host, with previous visits in 1914 and 1987.

“We tried to get it in 1995, but didn’t, so we waited a few years and tried again and we got it in 2006. They decide two years in advance,” Keith Burns, one of the event chairmen, said.

The Maquoketa Fire Department has been working on the convention for 2½ years, most intensely since January.

“It’s a fundraiser for us. It’s a 2½-year project. But it’s a pride thing. We want to show our fellow firefighters what Maquoketa has to offer,” said Al Muhlhausen, one of the chairmen.

Most of the convention’s activities are designed solely for firefighters and their guests, but some public events will be held at First Ward Park, Quarry and Olive streets.

Beginning this afternoon, there will be water games with firefighters. Water bowling will be done this afternoon when a fire hose is used to push a bowling ball down the lane to knock down pins.

On Friday will be old-timer water fights and women’s water fights. State-sponsored contests begin Saturday. The contests are free and open to the public to watch. Nonprofit organizations will have food booths at the park during the weekend.

A parade of fire trucks and equipment Saturday night will include at least 100 fire apparatus. Maquoketa’s former fire chiefs will be parade marshals.

“There will be a horse-drawn steamer, antique fire trucks and hand-drawn pumps,” said Rick Schmidt, one of the chairmen. “We plan to have Maquoketa’s whole fleet in the parade. Davenport is sending up its Haz-Mat truck, providing it’s not needed.”

The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Judson and Matteson streets near the high school football field. It will turn onto Main Street, then Quarry Street and into the fairgrounds.

A craft show will be set up at Maquoketa’s new fire station from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with numerous garage sales all over Maquoketa at the request of the fire department.

“The wives just love garage sales,” Schmidt said.

The Jackson County Fairgrounds will be the main location for the convention. About 1,200 campsites have been set up, and campers also will be at Maquoketa Caves State Park and Horseshoe Pond Park. All the motels and bed-and-breakfasts are booked. Entertainment and dinners for the convention-goers are set up each night, plus golf and bowling tournaments.

“My first convention was in 1999 and people were asking when they could come back to Maquoketa because they had such a great time in 1987,” Schmidt said. “We want to show them a great time and what’s happening in Maquoketa.”

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.