On Friday, July 28, 2023, the City of Beaverton and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue hosted an unveiling ceremony of a new display at the Beaverton main library, a volunteer-led partnership project that honors over 100 years of fire service to the residents of Beaverton and the surrounding community.
Library Director Kim Carroll welcomed attendees, noting the library’s pride in providing a space that brings people together to foster shared experiences. Mayor Beaty, TVF&R Assistant Chief Patrick Fale, retired Beaverton Fire Chief Gary Nees, and retired Beaverton Fire Marshal Dave Nelson also shared remarks.
The centerpiece of the new exhibit features a 30-year-old bronze plaque, dedicated to Harvey Williams, who served as the first volunteer Fire Chief for the City of Beaverton. It lists the names of Beaverton Fire Department’s volunteer firefighters who served between 1934-1973. Framing the plaque are images and documents which recognize key events of the fire department’s history, provided in a timeline below. Beaverton’s Engine 2, a 1935 Chevrolet now preserved as one of TVF&R’s antique apparatus, was also on display.
