* Wallace Fire Department Enjoys
Excellent Record of Service Here
Organization Was Formed in
1926, Being Governed by Rul
es and Regulations of State
Firemen’s Association.
MANY DESTRUCTIVE FIRES
f FOUGHT SINCE BEGINNING
Averages Being on Honor Roll
Six Months Out of Each
Year, Sec. Reports
It is often said — and with
truth—that a town is as good
as its citizens. This could be
amended—and still with a lot
* of truth—a town’s as good as
its fire department. For it is
a fact that without the efficient
work of a good fire department
( irreparable damage could result
to a community, both in loss of
money and in prestige.
That Wallace can and does
boast of one of the most efficient
fire-fighting units in any town
in North Carolina, size for size,
is well known to residents in
Duplin’s strawberry belt, and
to many people in other places.
It is therefore, with a desire
to give credit where credit is
due, and to offer a word of
praise to the local fire laddies
for their unselfish and efficient
work that this article is writ
ten.
For a long time prior to 1926,
the people of Wallace and vici
nity were aware of the fact that
their community needed a fire
department that was able to
cope with destructive fires, and
much talk was from time to
time indulged in with this end
in view. But little was done
towards accomplishing anything
until the closing days of 1925.
At that time the growing town
more than ever felt the need of
a reassurance that only a well
conducted fire department could
give.
Accordingly, on January 15,
1926, plans came to a head, and
a meeting was called by J. Au
brey Harrell in the old Wallace
Motor Company building where
the Cavenaugh Chevrolet Agen
cy is at present located, for the
purpose of organizing a fire de
partment for Wallace.
On the afternoon of that day,
the meeting was held, plans and
WELCOME TO THE FESTIVAL
From
JAMES HENRY CURRIE
„ AND HIS
Standard Esso Station
Wallace.N. C.
• We’re located right across the Corner from the
Brick Warehouse, the Center of Festival Activities
, . . Your Most Convenient Station. You’ll like
our Quick, Efficient and Courteous Service, which
embraces Everything the Motorist Desires.
“Happy Motoring”
COMPLIMENTS
—of—
SHEFFIELD GROCERY
(Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sheffield)
Wallace, N. C.
— The Home of —
THE BEST IN PURE FOODS AT
RIGHT PRICES AND HON
EST TREATMENT.
Headquarters for
Fancy Groceries and Feeds
WE EXTEND TO ALL FESTI
VAL VISITORS A WARM
AND HEARTY
WELCOME
Come to Wallace
to the
FESTIVAL
and
COME TO SEE US. MAKE OUR
STORE YOUR HEAD
QUARTERS.
—AND IF WE CAN ADD TO THE PLEASURE
OF YOUR VISIT, WE ARE READY AND
ANXIOUS TO DO IT.
.s
resolutions were drawn up and
the present Wallace Fire De
partment came into being, with
fourteen members. Mr. Harrell
was unanimously elected chief
of the new organization, and the
following were charter mem
bers: R. L. Fields, Howe B.
Dunn, J. P. Murray, J. W. Hof
fler, H. A. Register, R. W. Foun
tain, Emmett Williams, O. T.
Fountain, W. C. Sykes, Jr., Geo.
L. Boney, M. P. Kimball, Gra
ham Pope, and B. H. Ipock.
Equipment was immediately
purchased, and this included
various pieces of fire-fighting
paraphernalia, such as a fire
truck, hose, axes, etc. Later on
in the same year uniforms, con
sisting of coats, hats and boots,
were purchased by the Town of
Wallace for the department.
Until April 14, 1933, the fire
department operated under the
direction of Mr. Harrell, but at
that time Mr. Harrell was forced
to resign the leadership, owing
to ill health. The department
then unanimously elected J. W.
Hoffler as chief to succeed Mr.
Harrell in appreciation of his
work, who was given the title
of honorary chief of the fire de
partment for his lifetime. Mr.
Hoffler has served ever since.
Another “old timer,” who has
served as an official of the Wal
lace Fire Department since the
date of its organization, is Howe
B. Dunn. Mr. Dunn was elect
ed secretary and treasurer at
the first meeting, and has re
tained that position from that
day until this. To no small de
gree is the record of the local
fire department due to the tire
less energy of this local busi
ness man.
The present fire department
is a member of the North Caro
lina Firemen's Association, and
operates under the rules and re
gulations as set up by that body.
Each year two delegates, with
all expenses paid, are selected
from among the local firemen
and sent to the state convention
held by the Association.
A complete system of fire
alarm boxes, gre fighting equip
ment and water mains serves
Wallace, and for the outlying
districts chemical equipment is
carried by the truck for use
where water is not available,
or when for any other reason
its use is necessary.
Under the efficient leadership
of both Chief Harrell, and, later
on, Mr. Hoffier, the present
chief, the Wallace fire laddies
have established an enviable re
putation for their skill as fire
fighters. It is in the records
that they have never refused to
answer a call for assistance,
either in Wallace or nearby
points. They have helped to
fight fires in Rose Hill, Teach
ey and Burgaw, and also in sev
eral outlying rural districts.
To show the versatility of the
local department, the firemen at
one time went to Rose Hill and
helped the county fire warden
fight and control on one Sun
day a destructive forest fire, for
which piece of valuable work a
letter of commendation was for
warded to the local outfit by the
North Carolina Department of
Conservation.
From time to time, in appre
ciation of the good work of the
Wallace Fire Department, the
entire personnel has been invit
ed to dinners in the homes of
Wallace citizens.
As a tribute to the extraor
dinary work of the local fire
department, it averages being
on the honor roll of the State
Firemen’s Association around
six months out of each year. To
be eligible for this honor roll,
a fire department must hold
down the fire losses in the com
munity it serves to a minimum
of five dollars or less in a cur
rent 30-day period. That the
local boys are able to do this
is an excellent indication indeed
of their fire-fighting abilities. In
addition to this honor, there
have been received from time
to time by the fire department
many letters of congratulation
and thanks from various con
cerns and individuals whose
places the Wallace firemen have
been instrumental in saving.
Once a year, usually in Octo
ber, a national Fire Prevention
Week is proclaimed by the
President of the United States
and the Governor of North Car
olina. This week is participat
ed in by the local fire depart
ment through the holding of
fire drills in both the colored
and white schools. There is al
so some member of the depart
ment selected to give a talk in
the schools on fire prevention
methods and similar subjects.
Throughout the years which
have passed since the local de
partment came into being there
have been many fires fought,
any one of which could be men
tioned as an example of the
ability of the members to fight
fires and take it. Several in
stances of extreme heroism in
line of duty have been perform
ed, but in no single case has
any fireman ever suffered any
other than minor injuries, a re
cord of which any town or city,
either, could be justly proud.
One of the most outstanding
acts of heroism performed by
a local fire laddie, was that of
Fireman H. B. Dunn, who has
been the secretary and treasur
er of the Wallace Fire Depart
ment from its beginning. On
January 21, 1927, Fireman Dunn,
at great risk of his life, enter
ed a building which was almost
completely on fire and after his
third attempt succeeded in
bringing to safety a small col
ored child imprisoned in the
blazing structure.
Another example of the ten
acity and heroism of the local
boys was on the occasion of the
burning of the old Bank of Dup
lin and Wanoca Theatre build
ings. This destructive fire took
place in bitterly cold weather
during February 1932, on the
21st. For five hours the local
firemen battled the flames
against the greatest of odds, not
the least of which was the ice
and slush that formed in the
freezing temperatures prevail
ing. Time and time again it
looked as though the whole
place would be destroyed, but
the boys of the Wallace Fire
Department never stopped fight
ing until the fire was out. The
buildings were valued at $16,
000, and the loss was kept to
$7,500, all of which was cover
ed by insurance.
While a system of alarms has
been in operation for several
years, a better system has been
installed with the following
numbers: No. 1, telephone call;
No. 2, Dees Pharmacy corner;
No. 3, M. O. Powell corner; No.
4, Frank Boney corner; No. 6,
John Wells corner; No. 8, W. D.
Campbell corner; No. 9, William
Farrior corner.
Undeniably, the air of excite
ment and danger which sur
rounds a fire must be counted a
factor in holding the interest of
any volunteer fireman, but this,
to a certain extent, wears off
after a long period of service.
When this becomes true, one
can truly describe a volunteer
firemen only by saying that his
is one of the most unselfish ser
vices any citizen of any town
is called upon to perform.
—Come to Wallace June 7-12—
Attend the Strawberry Festi
val here all Next Week.
1
I
l
j
I
LANIER’S BARBER SHOP !
LLOYD H. LANIER, Proprietor
Brick Warehouse Building WALLACE. N. C.
Where Two Registered Barbers Are j
Ready to Serve you at All Times.
A New Shop for the Whole Family. Special Atten
S
tion to Ladies and Children.
“WE MAKE BARBER1NG OUR BUSINESS”
Lloyd H. Lanier • J. C. Campbell
“Hygienic Barbering—Skill
\
and Care”
WELCOME to Festival Visitors
STRIP-CROPPING HELPS
(Continued from Page 3)
John C. Shiver, assistant soil
conservationist.
Such crops as small grains,
sorghums, legumes, and grasses
are readily adaptable to the strip
cropping and fit in well in strip
rotations with clean-cultivated
crops. Strips can be used to
establish terrace lines, making
It possible to build terraces at
a more convenient time.
Width of the strips is depen
dent upon the slope of the land
and requirements of the indi
vidual farmer, Shiver said. On
gentle slopes it is considered
good practice to lay off the strips
20 to 30 feet wide and on steep
slopes 40 to 50 feet wide.
The Store Of
FOODS
Of "Paramount Excellence”
Joins in Extending an Invitation and
a Hearty Welcome to Visitors to The
“Bigger and Better * Strawberry Fes
tival, and especially to The First
Lady, The Governor and other Not
ables. A nd, we further invite you to
Visit our Store for the Best in—
STAPLE AND
FANCY GROCERIES
FRESH FRUITS i
VEGETABLES
At the most Reasonable Prices to be
Found Anywhere, plus an Honest
and Satisfactory Service.
MAKE OUR STORE YOUR
HEADQUARTERS DURING
THE FESTIVAL.
i. W. POWELL & COMPANY
Wallace . . . North Carolina
L
Welcome...
Festival Visitors!
We Specialize In
• Motor Re-Building
• General Repairing
• Acetylene Welding
• Top and Glass Work
• Battery and Ignition
Service
• Wrecker Service
• And Accessories
-------4
“WHEN GABRIEL BLOWS HIS HORN”
When your Car is wrecked or your Motor gets sick,
The wise thing to do is see us Quick.
We do it all, from Tires to Top
And you have to make but just One Stop.
Our prices will please; Our work vou‘11 like:
And you'll smile with Satisfaction as you speed down the pike.
When on the Road Misfortune might stalk.
It would be dreadful to have to Walk.
Our Service is Known and Preferred by Many;
We'll find and fix your trouble, if There is any.
When all your patience and strength are shorn,
Just Call for us and hear Gabriel Blow His Horn.
“Gabe” and His “Crew” . . . every one of 'em, make their Bows to “King Straw
berry”, and heartily Join in extending a Glad Hand to all who will come our Way.
“Gabe” and His “Crew” would be mighty Glad to Know you ... so Come to see Us.
GABE’S GARAGE
GABRIEL BONEY, Proprietor
Wallace..North Carolina
__