TRINITY VOL. FIRE DEPARTMENT
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OUR HISTORY
Approximately 100 citizens met in the Bethany Community in 1961 at the
Yadkin Baptist Church on Highway 115 North for the purpose of organizing a
volunteer fire department for the surrounding community. Harold Millsaps was
spokesman for the group that met to discuss plans and appoint officers. O.C.
Gregory was elected Chief, Paul Watt was elected Asst. Chief, J.L. Mayberry
was elected Captain, and Howard Harris was elected Secretary/Treasurer. A
nominating commitee was appointed consisting of L.G. White, Kenneth (Bud)
Watt, Leland Mayberry, D.O. Travis, and Bruce Moore.
On April 24, 1961, a meeting was held at Whites Store to select a building
commitee, a building site, complete the list of officers, and appoint other
commities. Statesville Fire Chief Frank Crowson and Cool Springs Chief Reuben
Starrette were speakers at the meeting. The members appoionted to the building
commitee consisted of Hoke Crider, Paige Baity, Fleet Sprinkle, Huber Reid,
and C.H. Stikeleather. The finance commitee consisted of Henry Sherrill, Curt
Goforth, Howard Harris, Edgar Robertson, and Hubert Schild. A location beside
Gregory's Store on HWY 115 was chosen as the site of the department building.
After the organizational meetings, election of officers, and commities, the
Trinity Volunteer Fire Department really got underway. Funds began to be
pledged to buy materials for the building and most of the labor was donated by
different people in the community. The ladies of various commitees were on
hand, as the building work was done, to provide food and refreshments for
workers. Henry Sherrill, finance chairman, made an announcement that on
December 4, 1961; funds totalling four thousand dollars had been raised, and
then announced plans that a musical jamboree was to be held at Central
Elementary School for the benefit of the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department.
Then came the idea of the "Envelope Campaign". Different persons took sections
of the territory and handed out envelopes to be returned containing
contributions. These activities, and the progress of the building really
boosted enthusiasm as the community got behind the department. The approximate
total cost of the materials for the original building was eleven thousand
dollars, with most of the labor being donated. With funds continuing to come
in or being raised by projects, the building was soon completed and equipped
with the appropriate fire trucks.
The area served by the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department starts near the
Blankenship Chiropractic Clinic on Highway 115 to the south, Snow Creek Road
to the north, South Chipley Ford Road to the east, and the Midway Methodist
Church to the west. This area includes approximately 800 residences.
In March 1981, plans were approved for a building expansion which almost
doubled the size of the original building. Construction on the expansion was
started in April and was completed in early May 1983. The addition included
more kitchen space and a board room, which is also used as a training room,
located upstairs over the department.
A new pumper was ordered in August 1982 and delivered in June 1983. The
addition to the building and the purchase of the pumper represented capital
expenditures of approximately one hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars. The
main fundraising activities were the Envelope Campaign, an Auction Sale, and a
Ham Day.
In 1987 Kenneth (Bud) Watt stepped down from the Chief's position. At that
time, Russell Johnston was elected as the new Chief to bring the fire
department in to the new decade. Russell Johnston remained Chief for seven
years. In 1994 Russell Johnston stepped down as Chief. William (Jay) Stewart
was elected as new Chief.
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