HARVARD RESCUE SQUAD
Harvards Rescue Squad was chartered in April 1956 under the State of Illinois Not for Profit Law. The Rescue Squad went into operation on May 31, 1956. Members were required to have the standard First Aid Card and complete the advanced course within six months after joining.
Establishing the Rescue Squad was a project of the Harvard Jaycees and the majority of squad members came from the Jaycee ranks. The Walworth, Wisconsin Rescue Squad was very active in forming the local group. The Harvard City Council did what it could in a legal way to help buy its first truck from the Walworth Rescue Squad. They sold to the Jaycees a 1953 GMC pickup truck for $600.00 cash and it was promptly traded to the Village of Walworth for a 1949 Dodge walk-in van complete with First Aid and lighting equipment.
In 1968 the Squad was using a 1960 Ford for its emergency calls to accidents, fires, and the carrying of stricken persons to the hospital.
During the fall of 1974 a concerned drive was set up to acquire newer equipment. In a total of 73 days the people of Harvard answered the Rescue Squad's call and raised over $27,000. With this, and the sale of one of the older vehicles, the purchase of an "Ambulance type" truck was achieved. Two heart monitors, at a cost of over $4,000 each, were purchased and the balance of monies collected were used for other smaller articles.
Because of its strict charter, the Rescue Squad members are bound together as a close knit group. The inserts quoted below give an example :
"A member absent more than one meeting a year without just cause, is automatically banished from the organization."
"A member found guilty of talking to anyone about what is seen or heard in anyone's home while on business of the Rescue Squad is cause of banishment."
"No member can refuse a call..."
The Harvard Rescue Squad is an all volunteer group subject to call 24 hours a day. They will continue their samaritanship through foul or fair weather whenever called. We, the Rescue Squad of your city, hope this small summary of the happenings of our first twenty years and our country's first 200, gives you something else to be proud of. Obviously we could not describe any of the major disasters or calls we attended, and do so in good taste.
In 1976 the Rescue Squad's moving vehicles consist of a 1975 Dodge purchased in 1975 and a 1970 Ford purchased in 1971.
Harvard Rescue Squad members from 1956 - 1976 include :
Erwin Menzies
Louis Vits
John Lake
Harry Stafford
Clarence Meseck
Ollie Blank
Ray Krohn
Richard Shields
Charles Heiden ( deceased)
Frank Gile
Herb Turner
Clarence Axelson
Richard Fluger
Adrian Dewey
William Ward
Robert Sorensen
Elmer Frenk
Glenn Sherman
Gene Cavin
Bill Soucie
Bill Schilthelm
Leroy Carlson
FRancis Cavin
Bill York
Jerry Meade
Jim Carbonetti
Don Ruhff
Perry Jones
Robert Jacobs
Steve Redding
Chuck Lockwood
Brandon Piper
Robert Justen
Steve Bell
Mark Hayes
Jerry Groskinski
Dennis McCauley
Edward Jones
Ray Groskinski
Ken Burma
Eugene Hartwig
Donald Shumacher
Tom Jones
Douglas Ingraham
Jerry Raupp
John Jones
Ed Fair
Don Carlson
Frank Godo
Dale Carlson (deceased)
Ken Kolls
Ed Repa
Gene Melby