What's in a fire station name? Plenty of history
Kurt Neuckranz wants to make sure his father's contributions to Rolling Meadows are not forgotten.
He's the son of the late Raymond H. Neuckranz, a former alderman and community activist, whose name is prominently affixed to the outside of the fire station on Plum Grove Road.
And if you call it the Plum Grove Station around the younger Neuckranz, a lifelong Rolling Meadows resident, you might get an earful. Knowing the building was dedicated to his father while he was "practically on his deathbed," Neuckranz bristles when the proper name isn't used. He's started a small campaign to make things right.
"This is not to feed my ego or my deceased father's ego, but when you dedicate a building, at some point you have to use the deceased's name - otherwise, what's the point?" he says.
Neuckranz's father had pushed Rolling Meadows leaders to build a second station when he ran for alderman in the 1970s, when the city was quickly growing west of Route 53.
The building was well on its way to completion when Raymond Neuckranz, in his second term, was stricken with brain cancer. In 1980, the fire station was dedicated and named for him. He died about a year later.
"There are thousands of people in this community who still remember my father," his son says, adding that Raymond Neuckranz had planned to run for mayor and had plenty of support.
Neuckranz says city officials had planned to use the station's official name in press releases. That hasn't been the case in recent years. In fact, the latest edition of the city's newsletter has the top headline, "Renovated Plum Grove Station to Host Fire Department Open House."
"After 28 years if you're going to have a new open house at a station with a $300,000 renovation, it would be apropos to mention it by its name," Neuckranz says.
Fire Chief Ron Stewart, who was not with the department in 1980, said there are reasons to use the Plum Grove name, particularly among dispatchers in surrounding towns. "They wouldn't know what the Neuckranz Station was," he explains.
But he understands Neuckranz's frustration. Neuckranz said Stewart made a personal call to him last week, and that Stewart apologized for any misunderstandings and even offered to put together a display for his father at Saturday's open house.
"I thought it was a nice personal touch," Neuckranz said of the phone call.
About that open house: To celebrate National Fire Prevention Week, the Rolling Meadows Fire Department is inviting residents to stop by the Neuckranz Station (I heard you, Kurt). It's set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2455 Plum Grove Road.
Activities include an up-close look at the vehicles, tours of the renovated station, and rescue demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
And with the Plum Grove Road project nearly complete, getting there won't be a such hassle.
cthomas@dailyherald.com.