The June 1955 issue of the children's magazine, Jack and Jill, featured the story, "SPARKY, the Firehouse Dog," by Peg Tyndal Jackson. Based on the true story of a stray Dalmatian who wandered into the Batavia Fire station and was adopted by the firemen. "Sparky" became a national sensation and families would travel to Batavia to meet him and have their photos taken with the fire department's mascot, according to Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke. The mayor himself was photographed in front of the station with the dog.
