Carrsvillevfd.com excellent phots in the gallery
Title
www.CarrsvilleVFD.com - Home - Carrsville, VA USA!
A SHORT EXCERPT FROM THE HISTORY OF THE CARRSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Brought to you by: www.carrsvillevfd.com
In the years prior to 1957, the community of Carrsville had no fire protection within the area. In January 1957 the need for a fire department was addressed by the Carrsville Ruritans. The task of organizing the Fire Department was turned over to the Public Service Committee with Walter Johnson as Chairman.
In April of that year the Fire Department was organized with the following officers:
Archer Spivey - Chief J. C. Rose - Asst. Chief Elliott Johnson - Secretary Walter Johnson - Treasurer Hunter Daughtrey - President
George Big Boy Carr's Shop 1st "Firehouse'
The first piece of equipment purchased was an abandoned 1941 International Navy
fire truck (with flat tires). Archer Spivey, Walter Johnson, J. C. Rose and Elliott
Johnson took the journey to retrieve the truck from Hunter Scott for $210.
It was agreed that each member joining the fire department would pay $30. The
newly organized department received $200. from the Carrsville Ruritan Club to help with expenses.
Lyle Smith presented the fire department with it's first two donations of $25: R. A. Rawls
and Bristow Insurance Agency.
A vote was passed at the May Ruritan meeting that the Carrsville Community Center would be used for fire department meetings until a building was available. The firemen worked on their first fire truck many Saturdays at Archer Spivey's shop, restoring, painting, and equipping it for service. The truck was ready for service on July 1, 1957. It was housed at George (Big Boy) Carr's shop for about one year.
During July and August, the members of the department built a firehouse. With a truck ready for service and a new firehouse, beside the present Community Center, the members were ready to attend fire school at Franklin's Fire Station in November.
2nd Firehouse, built beside present Community Center.
About 1963, the fire department bought an International truck from the telephone company in Smithfield. The tank and pump were taken from the previous truck and put on this truck's chassis. A second truck was soon needed and an old used gas truck served as a tanker. Another bay was added to the firehouse to accommodate the second truck.
1943 Seagrave Pumper/Tanker
In 1964 an "Open Cab" Seagrave Pumper was purchased from the Civil Defense. B. F. Dixon drove it back to Carrsville and nearly froze. The front end shook so badly, if it was driven over 45 m.p.h., it was virtually impossible to keep it on the road. A lot of work was done to this truck and it soon replaced the old tanker.
In 1967 the department and the community suffered a great loss - the death of our first Fire Chief, Archer Spivey. J. C. Rose was named the department's new chief.
Our department expanded both in apparatus and in knowledge. Isle of Wight County's financial support to us grew along with our needs. As we approached the 1970's, the department discussed the need for a new pumper truck to replace the old International.
In 1973 the department received their first "new" fire truck for a price of $23,500.
The county funded 70% of the cost and the department raised funds for the
remaining 30% of the cost. The pumper was paid for in early 1975. The following
two years allowed us to equip it with necessary apparatus. Ten new sets of
turnout gear were distributed to members and four hundred feet of hose were
packed on the truck.
In December of 1976, wives of the firemen began to contribute to the department's
cause. They formed the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department.
They spent most of their time preparing and serving suppers to various organizations
to raise funds for replacing and adding to our equipment and supplies. We originally honored
our Ladies' Auxiliary each May with a fish fry and fish muddle at their expense,
but this tradition has since changed to a free steak dinner.
Interest in the fire department also spread to the younger minds of the Carrsville community. Under the supervision of Nelson Carr, a junior fire department consisting of six members under the age of eighteen was formed. The Jr's could not enter a burning building but they were taught, trained, and tested as to the location of equipment on the trucks and how to be of service to the men in the department. The department has had many outstanding members to originate in the Jr's department and progress to the senior department.
By 1977 the department discussed replacing our old 1943 Seagrave with a new tanker.
Our new 1977 tanker was ordered in late 1977 and arrived for service in March of 1978. It
carried a price tag of $32,000 and it carries 1250 gallons of water.
In 1978 the City of Franklin donated their used equipment truck. We had no room for this
third truck so the department moved into a newer building that the Isle of Wight Rescue had
vacated on Highway 58.
In the latter months of 1979 the department purchased a new equipment truck to replace the older model. This truck was purchased from the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad for $10,000. The body was built at Robinson's Body Works in Windsor, VA. Phil Beckett and other members constructed the inside with compartments, shelves, racks, etc. for equipment.
Please goto our website for more... www.carrsvillevfd.com
