ROCHELLE — There are some big changes for the 97th annual Rochelle Fireman’s Ball, which will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight, April 8, in the Stillman Room at the Hickory Grove Civic Center, 1127 North 7th Street, Rochelle.
According to Rochelle Fire Department Social Club President Ben Johnson, the annual fundraiser has been moved from the fourth Saturday in January, when it was held for years, to the second week in April.
“Some people were upset with that at first,” Johnson said of the change. “But now they’re all right with it.”
The main reason for the change is obvious: the weather.
“We’ve been burned a couple of times (because of blizards),” Johnson said.
Another change this year is that it will be held in Rochelle rather than outside city limits, as in the past.
“We want to make it accessible for people in town,” Johnson said
Before Hickory Grove was built, fire chief Dave Sawlsville said the event was held in the summer at the Central School gym. “because there wasn’t any place bigger.” It couldn’t be held during the school year, he said, because school officials didn’t want it to interfere with school activities.
A third change involves the entertainment, which includes D.J. Nick Bowron of DeKalb and only one band instead of two as in past years.

“Last year people said they wanted a D.J., so we thought we’d try it,” said coordinator Jeremy Good, who is also a firefighter and paramedic.
Handling the musical duties alone this year is RAMi (Rockford Area Music Industry) winner The Prime Time Live Band of Rockford. Referring to them as “a wedding type band,” Good said the versatile group can perform “anything you ask."
“They have a big following in this area, which is good for us,” Good said.
Besides the music, there will be dancing, food from Abrahams, drink specials, a full bar, guest bartenders, a 50/50 raffle (last year’s winner got over $900), a free photo booth, and a silent auction. Some of the big-ticket items for the auction include an autographed Dick Butkus jersey, a Cubs’ World Series commemorative cup, a one-night stay at the Comfort Inn, four box seats to see a Rockford Ice Hogs’ hockey game, a signed Ice Hogs’ puck and many other items generously donated by local businesses.
There will also be special commemorative cups for $10 that purchasers can drink beer out of all night.
“You can have a Manhattan or any other crazy drink you want,” Good said, adding that there’ll be an extra charge for them.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the fire station, Abraham’s or at the door on the night of the ball. Good said the tickets are the same whenever you buy them.
Proceeds from the fundraiser, which is the fireman department’s largest of the year, will go towards an annual $2,500 scholarship at Kishwaukee College, the maintenance of Fireman’s Hall, where a free dinner is served every Monday night, a Little League baseball team, and – if there is any money left over – towards training and equipment.
For the scholarship, Good said a committee chooses the winner every year, with a focus towards someone in the immediate area who may not necessarily be a 4.0 student because they don’t have as many financial opportunities. The scholarship is for any student, not just those studying fire science, although preference is given to those who are expected to finish their schooling.
“That helps us in the long run,’ he said, adding that the recipients could hopefully end up staying and working in the area.
Good said approximately 80 people are treated to free meals every Monday, regardless of their income. He said it started out with the Catholic Church serving about 15 meals and has since grown, based on the great need for it, to include several local churches working together.
Although there is a specific fund to handle training and equipment, Good pointed out that it has been dwindling because of the economy so any extra money made from the fireman’s ball will be put towards those uses.
However, when they need help, the Rochelle department does get assistance from Dinges of Amboy and the Alexis Fire Dept. of Alexis, Ill.
Johnson said they think the fireman’s ball started in the 1890s, but due to a “long hiatus” it didn’t become an annual event until much later. Despite a possible break during world War II, Sawlsville added the ball has been held continuously every year since.
“It’s a long standing community tradition,” he said, proudly.
Good said the balls are more common with older fire departments. Rochelle is hoping to draw around 300 people, some of whom will come from neighboring fire districts, who Good says support each other.