In a message announcing the postponement, organizers added that Daveler himself likely would have urged them to cancel rather than reschedule
A planned ceremony to honor longtime Lansdale Fire Marshal and Fairmount Fire Company Chief Jay Daveler with the honorary renaming of a portion of Vine Street has been postponed due to recent winter weather and frigid temperatures.
Lansdale Borough and the Fairmount Fire Company had intended to hold the event Sunday, a date chosen because Feb. 1 marks Daveler’s birthday. Organizers said the timing felt especially meaningful to celebrate his decades of service to the borough. However, following last weekend’s storm and with more cold weather in the forecast, officials said it was best to wait for safer conditions that would allow the community to gather comfortably.
In a message announcing the postponement, organizers added that Daveler himself likely would have urged them to cancel rather than reschedule, a reflection of the humility many remember him for. Still, they said his impact on Lansdale was far too great not to be recognized in a proper public ceremony.
A new date will be announced in the future.
When held, the ceremony will mark the honorary designation of the Vine Street Connector near the Fairmount fire station as Chief Jay Daveler Way. The recognition will include commemorative signage along the roughly four-block stretch of roadway running past the station at 100 Vine Street — the building Daveler helped bring to life during his tenure. The honorary name will not change the road’s official designation but will serve as a lasting tribute.
Daveler, who died April 18 at age 86, devoted more than half a century to Lansdale’s fire service. He joined Fairmount Fire Company in 1957 and became chief in 1967, serving in that role until 2011. During his leadership, he modernized the department’s equipment and operations, helped establish a local fire training school, and became widely respected for his expertise in fire investigations and prevention. He also served as borough Fire Marshal and mentored generations of firefighters across the region.
Beyond his work in the fire service, Daveler was a familiar presence in town as a business owner, operating Davro Instruments and Nostalgic Collectibles on Main Street. In 2012, he was named the first recipient of Lansdale’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his wide-ranging contributions.
Following his passing, a large procession of firefighters, first responders and residents honored Daveler as his casket was carried past the Vine Street fire station beneath a massive American flag suspended between ladder trucks. Friends and colleagues remembered him as a humble leader who cared deeply about safety, service and doing the right thing without seeking recognition.
Officials said they look forward to announcing a new date to properly dedicate Chief Jay Daveler Way and give the community an opportunity to come together to celebrate a legacy that remains deeply woven into Lansdale’s history.
