For decades, Dalmatians have been representative of the heroism and bravery that permeates fire stations country wide. Dating back to the time of horse-drawn carriages, Dalmatians were valuable assets to firefighters. Not only were they able to keep pace with the horses and clear paths for the fire-carriages, they would also defend the horses from other animals that may harm them, as well as comfort the fear-stricken horses as they approached the blaze.
Dalmatians and their courageous role within the firehouse are a vital piece of history that will never be forgotten, especially within the community of Hamilton. After taking some well-deserved time off, the Hamilton Fire Department is lucky to have their very own Dalmatian, Lieutenant Nate back on duty and serving as an important symbol within the community.
Created nearly a century ago and almost as old as the firehouse itself, the Dalmatian statue that currently resides outside of Station 26 was not always in the outstanding condition seen today. Having sat outside the firehouse for decades prior, the statue underwent a tremendous amount of weathering. Though the statue was made of sturdy iron and concrete, the Dalmatian was missing its front leg, an ear and was ultimately in serious disrepair. The lieutenant at the time, Nate Robertson, had an important decision to make: throw the Dalmatian away or restore it himself. Due to the Dalmatian statue’s importance to the firehouse and the community, the decision was an easy one.
“He knew it was worth the investment to rebuild the leg and ear,” said the current lieutenant, Bryan Hanna. “It was priceless.”
For many of the people living with the Lindenwald community, the Dalmatian statue is a familiar friend. Decades ago, the nuns would walk the school children home to their houses, passing the firehouse along the way. The children would pet the Dalmatian statue each time, saying hi to the firemen and collecting candy from the station before finishing their walk home.
The Dalmatian statue is representative of a simpler time, one that no longer exists within our hectic, technology-filled world and though something as simple as petting a dogs head on a walk home may appear inconsequential to some, these moments were incredibly special to everyone involved. The Station 26 Dalmatian is a special piece of history that cannot be lost, especially to the children who grew up with him and still reside in Hamilton today.
“Something so small means so much to people,” said Hanna, “and the fact that Nate was willing to do this and put his own money and materials into it speaks volumes of his character.”
The project wasn’t easy and required a lot of time to complete. Robertson worked on it in his free time, restoring it in the basement of the firehouse. Though his goal was to finish it before he retired, there was not enough time to complete it before he left. Luckily, Nate Robertson wasn’t alone in his belief that this Dalmatian was special, and after he left the station, others stepped up to finish his important work for him.
It took a month for Lieutenant Bryan Hanna to complete the dog after Robertson left, as well as fashioning a leather collar with the Dalmatian’s new name upon it. A dog house was also constructed by Joe Geis so that the Dalmatian would not be as susceptible to harsh weather like it was before. After so much time spent indoors, Lieutenant Nate now sits proudly beneath his dog house outside of Station 26.
“Hamilton is an old community with a strong history,” said Hanna. “We respect the people who built this station and allowed for this career and this life. There is pride in working for the department. We appreciate it and want to pass it on.”
If you find yourself near Station 26, don’t be shy! Give Lieutenant Nate a pat on the head and pay homage to the special history that his restoration represents.