Old fire station goes to Leonard

Addison Township last week handed over the deed to old Fire Station #1 to the Village of Leonard.
‘I’m just glad to see it go back to the village without any disputes,? said Fire Chief George Spencer.
In 1949, Addison Township built its first fire station, on E. Elmwood St. in Leonard.
At the time the station was built, an agreement was written and approved ? and reconfirmed in a 1992 update ? that if the station is ever abandoned by the fire department, the deed for the property will be turned over to the village.
‘It was an equitable situation,? Spencer said. ‘It worked out very well for 55 years.?
On November 1, the fire department ceased operations in the building and moved into a new Fire Station 31 on Forest Road, also located in Leonard.
Although Chief Spencer said the building has not technically been abandoned because the department’s antique fire truck is still stored there, the structure is no longer being used as an active fire station.
On Nov. 4, the Addison Township Board unanimously supported Supervisor Bob Koski’s suggestion to hand over the quit-claim deed to the village.
The Leonard Village Council is currently considering options and suggestions of what the building could be used for.