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150 years of fighting fires

Waupaca celebrates sesquicentennial

The Waupaca Fire Company was formed on May 11, 1871, 14 years after the founding of Waupaca.

The Waupaca Fire Department will celebrate its sesquicentennial on Saturday, May 22.

A fire truck parade will kick off the celebration at 10 a.m.

The parade will start at the parking lots of Waupaca Middle School and Waupaca Learning Center, head west on Shoemaker Road, north on Churchill Street, west on Royalton Street, northwest on School Street, then west on Badger Street to Main Street.

At noon, the official sesquicentennial ceremony will be held at Swan Park, followed by live music from 1:30-11:30 p.m.

Featured bands include Desperate Ottos, Brad Emanual and Boogie and the YoYo’z.

The Kids’ Firefighter Combat Challenge will be from 2-6 p.m. at Swan Park.

The course will consist of a rope pull, hose carry, chopping a piece of wood with a rubber mallet, running through a series of cones, advancing a hose line and spraying a target, and making a rescue of a child-sized mannequin.

Food and refreshments will be available at Swan Park from noon to 10 p.m.

Activities for children and adults are planned from 1-7 p.m.

A bag toss tournament will be held in the T-ball field from 2-5 p.m.

Live demonstrations, including a fire extinguisher simulator and a vehicle extraction, are also planned.

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