Bloomfield Memorial Day 2023 Weekend: Firefighter Tribute Planned

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A memorial to the “bravery and dedication of firefighters” will take place in Bloomfield later this month, and it will include one of the town’s most recognizable statues: Felix the Stone Fireman.

The Township of Bloomfield recently announced the upcoming dedication ceremony of a memorial stone, which will be installed directly in front of “Felix”, the stone fireman who has stood next to the Bloomfield firehouse on Franklin Street since 1932.

A ceremony to dedicate the memorial will take place at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at the Franklin firehouse. The public is invited to attend.

“We hope this memorial stone will serve as a symbol of gratitude and respect for the bravery and dedication of our firefighters, who risk their lives every day to keep us safe,” Mayor Michael Venezia said.

Town officials offered some background about the memorial:

“‘Felix’ previously stood on the side of the Fireman’s Insurance Company in Newark, but was removed in 1929 because he obstructed the views of some of the building’s residents. He was taken to a scrap yard where he remained until 1932 when a former councilman and volunteer Bloomfield firefighter by the name of Frederick E. Gardner purchased him for $25 and presented it to the town as a gift. A few weeks ago, the Gardner family (with the support of Councilman Rich Rockwell and Bloomfield Fire Chief Lou Venezia) installed a memorial stone in front of Felix to explain his history as well as honor all past, present, and future Bloomfield firefighters.”

“This statue and memorial stone are a testament to the unwavering courage and selflessness displayed by our firefighters, and will stand as a lasting tribute to their dedication and the sacrifices they make to protect our community,” Rockwell said.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.