Fire hall museum to be named for Gene Somerville
The firefighter museum at station four of the Niagara Falls Fire Department will be named the Gene Somerville Memorial Museum.
Council approved the request during its most recent meeting.
Somerville served 32 years with the department — 25 years as district chief of what was then known as the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department.
The naming request was made by the Chippawa Volunteer Firefighter Association.
The city has a naming criteria for distinguished people, organizations, corporations, foundations and families.
A city staff report states Somerville met several of the criteria, including contributing to the quality of life and well-being in Niagara Falls, as well as being a significant role model to the community.
Somerville joined the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department in January 1954.
In 1961, he became district chief and served for 25 years in this rank until his retirement in 1986.
Along with his long and distinguished service, Somerville was instrumental in having the new Chippawa fire station built in 1960.
He died in July 2015.
Naming, reception and signage costs will be covered through the efforts of the association.
In a letter to city council last month, association secretary Isabel Beland said they plan to host a dedication ceremony, and invite local dignitaries and members of the fire service to attend.
“We have obtained quotations for the signage on the building, and have raised monies to complete the project and are eager to move forward,” wrote Beland.
Ken Prohaszka, treasurer of the Chippawa Volunteer Firefighter Association, said he spearheaded the naming effort.
“I served under him. I just retired after 40 years service and Gene was my chief and my mentor,” he said.
“We have a monument in front that we raised money for and put that in honour of a gentleman who had 60 years in the fire department.
“But we wanted to give (the museum) a Chippawa resident’s name before the City of Niagara Falls names it something else.”
Prohaszka said he’s good friends with Somerville’s family.
“When he passed away, the family took donations and the daughter gave the money to me to do something in Gene’s memory,” he said.
“I thought why don’t we do something here? I got a quote from a sign company here in the Falls and laid it out. I ran it past our full-time chief, Jim Boutilier … and that’s where we’re at.”
Prohaszka said the naming ceremony is scheduled for June 24.