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Time to marvel at Varvel for 42 years as a city stalwart
After more than 42 years working for the City of Greencastle in some capacity, retiring City Building Inspector Dave Varvel awakened Friday without an office, a building site or a fire scene to go to.
"It's a different, strange feeling, knowing you don't have the responsibility you had the day before," Varvel said Friday afternoon, a day after being feted with a retirement reception at City Hall.
"It's liberating but really strange," the former Greencastle firefighter (1973-93) added.
"I believe I can get used to it."
Varvel and wife Radene, who will be married 47 years in October after becoming a couple back in second grade, are planning on becoming snowbirds, Varvel said, spending winters in Zephyr Hills, Fla., near Tampa, and seven months of the year back in Greencastle.
He even plans to continue with the Greencastle Fire Department in an unpaid support staff capacity as photographer and historian, documenting fire scenes, capturing training moments and shooting photos at any functions occurring at the GFD station.
While Varvel's nearly 43 years have also included stints at the wastewater treatment plant and in building and planning department, it's easy to tell his first love was always being a firefighter. His office at City Hall not only was decorated with his fire helmet and other firefighter items but also the front page of the Banner Graphic following the big Montgomery Ward fire on South Indiana Street.
And it was the downtown fires he was involved in that Varvel will remember most of his 20 years as an active firefighter. He was there to help battle the Montgomery Ward and Mac's fire, along with the tragic Opera House/Brewer's Relaxer Shop blaze on the west side of the square. And he played a role as building inspector after the May 17, 2012 fire on Washington Street just a block east of the square.
"I've seen four major fires downtown," he reminisced, "but probably the most intense fire I ever witnessed was the Skelton-Skinner (Lumber Co.) fire."
That 1976 blaze took out the lumber company building just beyond the railroad at the north end of Greencastle, right across the tracks from The Monon. When the fire hit the store's paint display and cans of thinner and other chemicals, it spewed an immense fireball out the front (U.S. 231 side) of the building and ignited piles of lumber throughout the yard.
But minor fire runs left their mark on Varvel as well.
"I'll always remember another incident, a very small fire really, many years ago at Ottawa Park. We put the fire out in a little structure there, and when we were done, a little girl came up and asked me for my autograph" he said. "That was totally unheard of. It caught me so off-guard."
But it remains a sweet moment the Greencastle native will never forget.
Not unlike working alongside the late Herman Wallace, who not only served a stint as fire chief but lovingly played the roles of Santa Claus and Smokey Bear for years in entertaining local children.
Varvel calls Wallace his mentor.
"I was fortunate to work with a lot of great people over my 42 years," he said. "Some are still around, and unfortunately, some are not. Herman, he influenced me. I loved going to work, just to work with Herman Wallace. He was a big influence on me."
Varvel, who worked at Greencastle Manufacturing for 18 months before joining GFD in June 1973, spent 2-1/2 years in the Navy after graduating from Greencastle High School in 1969.
What he will miss in retirement, Varvel said, is "the day-to-day contact with all the good people I've come in contact with. Contractors, owners, city employees, professional people like architects and engineers."
"Those working relationships and day-to-day contact with people, that's what I'll miss the most."
Varvel said he was humbled by the large turnout at his City Hall reception, which was capped by Fire Chief John Burgess presenting him a firefighter watch Thursday evening.
"I appreciate all your years of service and all the advice you've given me," Burgess told him. "I don't know whether to say congratulations to you or yell at you for leaving."
Mayor Bill Dory spoke on behalf of the mayors Varvel has served under, including both Nancy Michael and Sue Murray who were in attendance.
"We've had the honor of working with Dave over the years," Dory said, "and have never heard a bad word about his work in enforcing our building codes. He's handled everything with aplomb and treated people fairly."
Varvel has been a fine purveyor of public service as well, Dory said.
"He's been an educator too," the mayor added, saying Varvel's long career has been "indicative of the people we have here working for the city and living in the city and Putnam County."