1960s Firefighter Helmets Donated To Brookfield Fire Department

CITY OF BROOKFIELD, WI — A piece of Brookfield history found its way home to the city’s fire department.

Firefighter helmets belonging to volunteer firefighter Arthur Berres were dropped off Thursday by two of his grandchildren, Mark Roesch and his sister, Mary Ellen Pankow.

Roesch said the family was going through family pictures and found photos of Berres and his wife, Edna (Nachtstein) Berres.

“Me and my sister [Pankow] were talking about the old helmets we held onto. We got them when our mom gave up her house,” Roesch told Patch.

Pankow had an older helmet that had "B.V.F.D.," for Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department, hand-painted on it. Her grandfather’s name was inscribed inside.

“It's not like a hat you would see today,” she said.

The siblings felt the fire department might be interested in having the helmets.

The fire department posted on social media about the donation.

“Last week, the grandchildren of former firefighter, Arthur Berres, dropped off a two of his helmets that he wore when he worked for the Brookfield 'Volunteer' Fire Department. We believe this was sometime before 1965.

"While we cannot determine the exact years of Arthur's service, we did locate an old photo of fire fighters wearing this style of helmet. We thank Arthur's family for sharing these artifacts with us to add to our collection.”

The helmets opened up discussion with other relatives about the family history.

“Everyone remembers something different,” Pankow said.

There are still momentos of his grandfather in the family, Roesch said. A cousin in Marinette has a scrapbook of articles and photos about the fire department.

Pankow's daughter has become more interested in learning about the family history after hearing about the helmets, she said.

“It makes me feel honored," she said. "I’m glad we were able to drop the helmets off.”

About Art Berres

Pankow, Berres’ eldest grandchild, remembered visiting her grandparents in summer in the late 1950s .

“I remember him having to leave in the middle of the night for a fire. He always had his helmet and boots on the back porch,” Pankow said.

On November 7, 1946 Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department was organized. In 1947, Brookfield purchased a lot on Pleasant Street. Funds were raised through donations, according to the fire department's records.

On June 1, 1965 the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department became the City of Brookfield Fire Department.

November 7 will be the 75th Anniversary for the City of Brookfield Fire Department.

"Arthur Berres was a shoe salesman of Knapp Shoes. He’d sell black uniform shoes to the firefighters at the station as well as being a volunteer firefighter at the Fire Department. Arthur was also Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department’s Treasurer. His wife Edna Berres was the first vice president of the Volunteer’s Women’s Auxiliary. Art and Edna were married for over 50 years," according to the fire department.

Berres wasn't only a volunteer firefighter; he also worked for A.O. Smith Corp., a provider of water heating and water treatment products. He also worked as a shoe salesman.

Jim Mehring, the retired fire chief, posted on the City of Brookfield Fire Department’s Facebook page.

“Art Berres was a shoe salesman. He would stop at the original Station 1 on Pleasant Street and sell us the black uniform shoes. He was a character. He retired when the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department became the City of Brookfield Fire Department June 1st, 1965.”

Pankow and Roesch said their grandfather was one of eight children.

Berres married Edna Nachtstein on June 2, 1923, in Milwaukee. The couple had four children together. Berres died on April 23, 1979, at the age of 78, according to his family.