Bank gives $10,000 to help save historic Saukville firehouse

Port Washington State Bank has donated $10,000 to assist in the relocation and restoration of Saukville’s historic firehouse.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to support efforts that help preserve and share our community’s story,” James Schowalter, president and CEO of Port Washington State Bank, said.

“We are proud to be a part of this meaningful donation and to help ensure that future generations can experience and learn from the history and service embodied in this firehouse.”

The firehouse, a landmark rooted in more than a century of community service, was constructed in 1881 following a devastating mill fire.

It evolved alongside the village with an expansion into a brick structure in 1912. Over the years, the building has served multiple purposes, from housing firefighting operations to supporting the village public works department, later becoming home to the Saukville Area Historical Society.

When the Saukville Historical Society decided to disband in 2025, the Ozaukee County Historical Society received its archives and the donation of the historic firehouse by its new owner.

Plans are  underway to relocate the structure to Ozaukee County Pioneer Village, where it will be restored and transformed into an interactive exhibit showcasing local firefighting history.

The Historical Society has said it will take about $270,000 to move the building the four miles to Pioneer Village and set it on a new foundation there.

The bank’s contribution will help support the early stages of the project, which aims to preserve not only the building but also the stories and artifacts tied to Saukville’s firefighting legacy, including a 1912 pumper and a 1937 fire engine.

The tentative move date is July 27.

For more information about the project or to contribute, visit: https://ochs.co.ozaukee.wi.us/endowments.