Prentice, Wisconsin, located 80 miles south of Lake Superior off Hwy 13, has experienced its share of tragedy and forward progress related to fire over the past 124 years. The village and the county itself owe their names to William T. Price, President of the Wisconsin Senate and a prominent local logger. On March 3, 1879, Mr. Price and Governor William E. Smith signed the documents establishing Price County as one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

By the late 1800s, Prentice had become a bustling hub for logging and sawmills. The arrival of the Soo Line Railroad in 1886 transformed the village into a major trade center, with the population surging to nearly 1,800 residents. According to the local newspaper, Our Village, the railroad was so central to life that children could catch a train ride between the town’s two depots for just a penny or two. This era also saw the legendary rise of the local social scene, with nearly 23 saloons operating to serve travelers and workers alike.

The Great Fire and Resilience

The prosperity of the era was not without its risks. In 1893, a massive fire swept through the business district, destroying many of the original wooden structures. This tragedy highlighted the urgent need for more permanent industry and better safety measures, eventually leading to the establishment of the United States Leather Co. tannery in the early 1900s.

To protect the massive investment of the tannery and the community, fire safety became a top priority. A night guard was stationed to watch for smoke, and by July 24, 1905, the Prentice Volunteer Fire Department was officially formed. Early records from 1906 show the department’s first major business items included drafting bylaws and “buying a whistle” to alert the three wards of the community in case of emergency.