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Committee helps restore historic, important monument in Fredonia

ROCK SOLID

Committee members George Tadt Jr., in back, Paul Trippy, center, and Karen Trippy. received assistance of Ken Haas, right, owner of A. D Titus Memorial and captain of the Lambert Hook and Ladder Co. in restoring the Darwin R. Barker monument.

Cemeteries contain all types of history. While my wife Karen and I were meandering through Forest Hill Cemetery, we were looking at the gravestones of some of the original settlers of Fredonia, especially the supporters of the Fredonia Fire Department, John S. Lambert, Milton M. Fenner and Darwin R. Barker. Lambert and Fenner graves were fairly easy to find.

When we were able to locate Mr. Barker’s stone, it was almost unreadable. These gentlemen were instrumental in the development of the Fire Department in Fredonia.

Darwin R. Barker was a friend and supporter of the Fredonia Hose Company 1.

He and his wife entertained the members at their home for dinner on many occasions. Mrs. Barker made the banner for the fire company and presented the treasure to the Company. It has been preserved and is hanging in the parlor at the Fredonia Fire Hall. Mr. Barker donated time and money to the Company. In 1885, the company changed the name to D. R. Barker Hose Co. No 1, Inc. in his honor.

With these thoughts in mind, The Barker Hose Company decided to further honor their benefactor by erecting a new and readable monument to D.R. Barker and it was placed near his original stone recently.

Committee members that worked to enable this event to take place were George Tadt Jr., Paul Trippy and Karen Trippy. Our thanks to Ken Haas, owner of A. D Titus Memorial and Captain of the Lambert Hook and Ladder Company, for the wonderful memorial to honor Mr. Barker in the future.

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