There were many memories shared at the Lehi Fire Station open house on Monday.

Murlene Woffinden was one of the Mountain Bell operators in the 50s who would sound the siren when an emergency call came into the switchboard. She said they were the first dispatchers for the fire department.

"There were times when the string (to the siren) broke and you'd have to climb up on top of the switchboard to reattach it to the siren. You'd pull it down to go 'wooo' and let it up and pull it down again," Woffinden said. "We switched to dial in 1959 and then I don't know how the siren was turned on then."

Others came to the open house as a show of support from the American Fork, Saratoga Springs and Pleasant Grove Fire Departments.

"To support and to look," Jay Christensen, the American Fork fire chief, said. "I want a floor like this."

The bays' cement floor was epoxied, an expensive process, as part of the remodel to keep clean the floor clean more easily.

"This whole remodeling has made us more efficient and professional for the general public," Lehi Fire Chief Dale Ekins said.

Several visitors came out of curiosity and a few just wanted to be a part of the Lehi Fire Department team.

"Because I love this, I want to work here," Eric Ray Lowe, a volunteer firefighter for county wildland fires, said and grinned.

A 29-year veteran Lehi firefighter and fire chief from 1970 to 1973, Stan Gordon and his wife, Winona Brimhall Gordon, returned to the station to reminisce and see the remodel and addition of five bedrooms, four offices and extended bays.

The Gordons had just completed a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had served in Aberdeen, Md., a town of approximately 10,000 people.

Similar to when Stan Gordon was a volunteer for the Lehi Fire Department, the Aberdeen firefighters were called to an incident by siren.

"When we first got there, one morning the siren went off, I jumped out of bed and couldn't find my coveralls and boots then I realized where I was at," Gordon said and smiled.

Some 40 years ago, when he and his wife lived on 66 N. 100 East right behind the fire station. Gordon said he would hear the siren, get his turnouts on and run out the back door and through his neighbor's backyards to get to the station.

One night, "I thought I knew right where I was going and I ran smack dab into my own wheelbarrow," he said.

LEHI NEWS BRIEFS

Pointe Meadows Branch extends hours -- The Lehi City Public Library has extended the Pointe Meadows Branch Library's hours until 5 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, retaining its regular hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. The branch library on 2151 N. Pointe Meadow Drive (1940 West) is closed Saturday and Sunday.

Fall workshops begin -- The Lehi Arts Council has begun its fall workshops and is taking registration now. Classes include musical theater, cooking, crafts, music and movement, ballroom dance and cake decorating. Costs range from $40 to $65. All classes run 5 weeks and begin on Oct. 2. More information on the program and online registration is at www.lehicityarts.com. Registration is also being taken at the Legacy Center, 120 N. Center St., Lehi.

Story time started -- Fall story time began on Monday at the Lehi City Public Library children's wing with a circus theme. Story time is Monday through Friday with four sessions -- 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The 45-minute sessions present songs, finger plays, stories and a take home craft.

Free admission day at museum -- The Hutchings Museum, 55 N. Center St., is offering free admission on Sept. 16 in observance of the statewide Museum Day. There will be hands on activities from noon to 4 p.m. for a small charge.

Utah County

Annual spaghetti dinner today -- The Utah County Democratic Party and the Democratic Women of Utah County will hold their annual Spaghetti Dinner today from 6-8 p.m. at the Orem Senior Center, 93 N. 400 East.

All Utah County democrats and their families are invited. Several Democratic candidates will be speaking and there will be activities to raise money for local candidates. Cost is $12 per person or $30 per family

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to Pat at 356-0290 or e-mail patgappmayer@utahcountydemocrats.org.

This story appeared in North County on page A2.