Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories which will be published on Fort Atkinson Online documenting the fatal firetruck crash of Dec. 17, 1923, which was described by the then-“Jefferson County Union” as the “worst tragedy in the city’s history.”
By Chris Spangler
Only eight days before Christmas, December 1923 went from merry to mournful.
That was Sunday, Dec. 17, when a firetruck crashed just west of Fort Atkinson while responding to a Rockdale blaze. It claimed the lives of three firemen and injured three others.
“All Fort Atkinson is grief-stricken as a result of the terrible tragedy,” an article in the Dec. 21, 1923, edition of the then-weekly Jefferson County Union read. “Each man who rode the ill-fated truck did so because of his love of duty to the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, as well as his desire to help in time of need.”
The Dec. 28, 1923, issue of the newspaper contained an article with the headline “Fort Atkinson honors its victims of firetruck accident.”
“Not since the ex-Governor W.D. Hoard funeral here on Nov. 25, 1918, has Fort Atkinson paid such honor to its dead as was shown in the last sad rites for the three victims of the terrible firetruck tragedy: Frank Hoffman, Herman Smith and William Gross,” it began.
It reported that 128 firemen representing 15 cities attended the Thursday funerals of Hoffman and Smith. On Sunday, 187 from 16 communities attended Gross’ funeral.
They came from Jefferson, Whitewater, Watertown, Portage, Columbus, Horicon, Oconomowoc, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Cambridge, Edgerton, Madison, Janesville, Deerfield, Stoughton and Fort Atkinson.
Among the notables in attendance were William Wipperman, Portage, president of the Wisconsin State Firemen’s Association, and four other officers and former officers of the organization.
Following is obituary information about the firefighters who lost their lives that day. It is gleaned from the Dec. 21 and 28 issues of the Union.
Frank E. Hoffman
Frank E. Hoffman, 42, was secretary and treasurer of the Hoffman Lumber Company, located in 1923 where Ace Hardware now stands. He was co-owner with his brother, Harry.
Born Sept. 20, 1881, he was the son of German immigrant Frank Hoffman (1845-1913) and Amelia Hoffman (1844-1936).
He married Clara V. Barney on Sept. 7, 1904. She died in 1961 at age 79.
According to the Dec. 21, 1923, issue of the Jefferson County Union, they had one daughter, Geraldine. She passed away in 1995.
A member of the Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows, Hoffman was a member of the fire department for 18 years.
“Frank Hoffman, big strong, healthy Frank Hoffman, was a man of most generous impulses and his great good nature and kindly disposition made him a favorite with all who came in contact with him,” according to the obituary. “As a husband and father, he was all that the best could picture and his home life was happy to the point of ideal.”
It continued: “His taking away in the prime of life and in the shadow of tragedy is indeed a severe blow to his wife and child, and has occasioned deep sorrow within the circle of his relatives and is a loss to the community at large. Sympathy for the bereaved ones is general and unbounded.”
Funeral services were held at the Hoffman home on East Sherman Avenue at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery.
The Dec. 28 issue of the Union reported that more than 500 people passed through the Hoffman home in the morning, including the 108 visiting firefighters, 71 local firemen, city officials led by Mayor W.H. Weld, 101 Masons and 112 Odd Fellows members. The firemen, Masons and Odd Fellows marched from East Sherman Avenue to the Northside cemetery.
Herman W. Smith
Herman Wesly (sic) Smith, 59, was a local blacksmith known as “Herm” and “a highly respected citizen and businessman.”
Born Sept. 11, 1864, in Rome, he was the son of John Smith (1823-67) and Margaret Landgraf Smith (1828-1918), both German immigrants.
He married Wilhelmina (“Minnie”) Augusta Seavert on May 1, 1890. She died in 1949 at age 81.
Their children included Clifford Wesley Smith (1892-1955) of Milwaukee, Pearl Helen Smith (1894-95) and Cecil Fred Smith (1908-2002) of Fort Atkinson.
Smith resided in Fort Atkinson for 40 years.
“He was an expert at his profession and many a piece of iron has he heated, shaped and hammered in his forge and his anvil,” according to the Jefferson County Union. “When the fire department of the city hall was recently remodeled, it was ‘Herm’ Smith who was called upon to turn out the required iron fittings for the automatic opening doors, etc.
“Probably no man in the city took as much pride in the new fire pumper as did he, and although he had been connected with the fire department for 40 years, being one of the oldest firemen in the city in point of service, his interest in the department never lagged and leisure hours found him at the firehouse waiting for the call to duty,” the article read.
A member of the Masonic Lodge, he also was a member of Hook and Ladder Co. and the (Eureka Hose & Ladder Company) EFU.
Visitation was at his Clarence Street home, followed by funeral services at the Congregational Church. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
On Dec. 28, the Union reported that “the Congregational church was overflowing on Thursday afternoon for Smith’s funeral.” Among the attendees were 128 firemen, 99 Masons, city officials and hundreds of farmers. They also marched to the cemetery afterward.
William M. Gross
William Merit “Bill” Gross, 54, of 217 Edward St., was employed for a number of years by the Northwestern Manufacturing Co. and Creamery Package Co. For the past six months, he had been engaged by the city as a firetruck driver, the article reported.
Born Aug. 8, 1869, in Richmond, Minn., he was the son of Christian Gross (1828-79) and Louise Brandel Gross (1842-1916).
He married Sarah Jane “Jennie” Holden. She died Nov. 4, 1951, at age 85.
Children included Ethel M. Gross Henderson (1892-1945) of Rockford, Ill.; William Theodore Gross (1894-1993) of Milwaukee and Marshall E. Gross (1897-1975) of Fort Atkinson. The obituary referenced four children, but only three were listed.
“Bill Gross was a good-hearted man and a splendid husband and father. Since being appointed truck driver, he had never failed to be on the job at his appointed hours and took a deep interest in the fire department and the equipment, making a thorough study of the new pumper and its fine points of operation,” the obituary read.
The funeral was held Sunday, Dec. 23, with 187 firemen from 16 communities attending.
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