Johnson Day

With three consecutive generations of firefighters, the Johnsons of Berwick hold the record for the combined number of years of service by any one family to the Berwick and District Fire Department.

Keith Johnson served the department for more than 40 years and his brother, Gorden Johnson, served for 32 years. Gorden achieved the highest rank in the family, deputy chief, a position he held for at least a decade.

In the second generation, three of Gorden's sons joined the department: Dwight with 17 years, Glen with 25 years and Bob with 16 years. Volunteering at the age of 18, Dwight is most likely the youngest of any member to have joined the department.

In the third generation, Dwight's son, Chad, received his five-year pin for service in the department in May, making for a total of nearly 140 years of family commitment to firefighting.

Throughout the years, the Johnson family witnessed a long history of disasters and tragedy while serving the department. On a lighter note, there have also been several humourous events. As a young boy, Dwight remembers a particular morning in the early ‘60s when the alarm went off in his family home. The department responded quickly to the call. Just two hours later, the alarm went off again, sending the fire department back to the same home. About four hours later, Keith Johnson had a chimney fire in his home, making for a third response to members of the Johnson family in one day. Berwick's newspaper covered the story under the humourous title of “Johnson Day.”

In another event, Dwight, working as a salesman in New Minas, was home for lunch in Berwick when the alarm sounded for a fire at the James Lamb farm. With no time to change, Dwight - wearing a brand new beige suit and his best shoes - responded. The barn was on fire and, as animals will do, the cows were trying to head towards the burning structure. Firefighters formed a line to hold them back, but one persistent little cow continued to try and cross the formation. Dwight figured he could take him. Grabbing the cow by the neck, he was dragged through muck, mire and manure for about 200 yards. That was the end of his brand new suit.

The Johnson family was involved in all activities connected to the department over the years, especially darts, hockey and baseball. In one fundraiser, a large crowd enjoyed the hilarious antics of department members playing baseball while riding donkeys. Dwight Johnson was instrumental in establishing the 400 Club for the department more than 30 years ago, an idea he borrowed from the Lions Club, which had stopped using it at the time. A successful venture, ticket proceeds from that first fundraiser brought in $10,000, a substantial amount of money in any era.

As important as firefighting is, there is so much more to Berwick's organization, and the forefathers of the department would be utterly amazed and extremely proud if they knew what their institution had developed into. Firemen have a great deal more responsibility than just controlling and extinguishing fires, in itself is a surpreme act of valour. Being a member means great risk, hard work and commitment by volunteers trained to save lives in any situation. Keith and Gorden will not be forgotten for their long years of service and would be pleased to know a third generation follows in their steps into the 21st Century.