Ivan Eberhardt, Volunteer Fire Fighter, 30 Years

Object/Artifact

-

Town of Wasaga Beach

Ivan Eberhardt was awarded the Fire Service Ontario medal for over 30 years of service to the Wasaga Beach Fire Department

Ivan Eberhardt was awarded the Fire Service Ontario medal for over 30 years of service to the Wasaga Beach Fire Department

Name/Title

Ivan Eberhardt, Volunteer Fire Fighter, 30 Years

Entry/Object ID

2025.4.17

Description

A Fire Services Ontario medal with ribbon awarded to Ivan Eberhardt For Long Service under The Fire Marshals Act

Context

Ivan Eberhardt, son of Charles (Charlie) Eberhardt, was born in 1920 and passed away in 1979. Ivan was a volunteer firefighter with the Wasaga Beach Fire Department for over 30 years. Eberhardt Family History: Charlie Eberhardt was one of Wasaga’s early entrepreneurs who moved to the area around 1905. Mr. Eberhardt caught fish and sold them to neighbours and summer visitors. He also operated an ice cutting business. The Eberhardt family lived at the corner of River Road West and Beck Street where Gough’s landing is now. There was a large barn behind their house where the ice was stored; covered with sawdust and woodchips. Part of the original barn was incorporated into the Gough's Landing condo complex when it was built. Ice blocks were cut from Marl Lake and Nottawasaga Bay in the winter to sell to locals and tourists to keep their food cold as refrigerators were not common then. He built a general store located at the northwest end of the Main Street Bridge. He then added a second floor and began renting rooms to tourists and year-round visitors. The top floor of the store eventually became a classroom for students. The Eberhardt family also ferried people up and down the river and across the bay from Wasaga to Collingwood. In later years they operated a taxi business and a miniature golf. Ivan Eberhardt took over the ice business from his father, Charles Eberhardt in 1952. The medal was donated by Lorraine Pomeroy (Eberhardt), daughter of Ivan and Bessie Eberhardt, sister of Robert (Bob) and Harvey Eberhardt and granddaughter of Charles (Charlie) Eberhardt. Lorraine's donation, along with photographs, documents and a previous generous donation of $5000 to the Archives, is made in memory of her grandfather Charles Eberhardt and father Ivan Eberhardt.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.4

Acquisition Method

Gift