Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 19, 1978, edition 1 / Page 4
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Community unites efforts to overco Tribute to a few good men I To the Editor : The morning of January 10th, 1978 could have passed un- ( noticed as do so many days. Another day never more remembered for any one thing in particular, but for the small town of Hertford, N.C. that was not to be. The sun was out bright and except for the cold temperature, it looked to be a very pretty winter's day, but soon parts of the sky were turned black and fear would be in the hearts of all the townspeople. A business which supplids oil to a large part of the area surrounding Hertford was struck by disaster. Winslow Oil Company was destroyed by fire, but for the will of God and for the determination of a few good men, a large part of this * historic town would now be a charred mass of rubble. Let me make a point here before I go on. There are no I paid firemen in Hertford, N.C. There are no paid firemen in | the next three towns who helped aid Hertford, N.C. All the men who answered the call when the fire first started are volunteers. Hertford's Volunteer Fire Department was the first on the scene. How many? Nineteen men. How much equip ment? Three pumpers. And what lay in front of them? A major oil fire. The first three to six minutes of a fire can determine whether or not the fire spreads and covers more than what's already involved or whether it is held and not allowed to spread. These men faced what appeared to be an unsurmountable task. What took place in a very short period of time was one of the reasons Hertford is largely still intact today. I am not trying to set apart any differences between paid firemen and volunteers. Men who fight fire arehfiremen whether they do it for a living or for the sake of a town. I guess you could say this letter is a tribute to a few good men. I know that the townspeople will be paying tribute to these men for a long time to come. May I add, I am proud to have been associated with such a group. Gentlemen, I believe that this poem must have been writ ten with you in mind eventhough it was written some years ago. A FIREMAN'S PRAYER When I am called to duty God Wherever flames may rage Give me strength to save some life Help me embrace a little child Before it is too late Or save an older person from The horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear The weakest shout And quickly and efficiently To put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and To give the best in me; To guard my every neighbor and Protect his property. And if according to my fate lam to lose my life Please bless with your protecting hand My children and my wife. EARL DEANS Firefighter Norfolk, Va. Local 68 "It was the most remarkable fire fighting job I've ever seen. I can't praise the local fire department and the surrounding departments enough. There just aren't enough words to describe the job that was done. The same goes for the local and surrounding law enforcement agencies. The cooperation I received was out standing. " MARSHALL MERRITT Chief Hertford Police Department RELIEF OFFERED - The United Methodist Women and the local chapter of the American Red Cross set up a relief sta tion at the Hertford First United Methodist Church offering firemen temporary resting places as well as food and drink. Volunteers manned the station. REPRESENTATIVE OF UNITED EF FORTS ? Representative of united efforts of area fire departments are the three dif ferent fire trucks pictured above. The Albemarle Firemen's Association mutui aid agreement was put into full fore locally. "I just want to thank the firemen for showing the greatest display of courage that I have ever seen men work together and show in my life. " T. ERIE HASTE JR. owner of home in front of Winslow Oil Company Local Businessman "Everybody cooperated well ? 100% everything fell right in line. And everyone was willing to pitch in and help. " JULIAN H. BROUGHTON Perquimans County Sheriff "They did a tremendous job. I didi$ have any idea it would be possible to sa ve anything down here. " \ DUR WOOD REED JR. . Part Owner Reed Oil Company Thanks to all who helped Thanks are extended from the communi ty to all of the following, and any others in advertently ommitted, who offered assistance during the recent fire at Winslow Oil Company : Hertford Fire Department Winfall Fire Department Bethel Fire Department Belvidere-Chappell Hill Fire Department Center Hill Fire Department Intercounty Fire Department Williamston Fire Department Kitty Hawk Fire Department Tyrrell County Fire Department Roper Fire Department Edenton Fire Department Elizabeth City Fire Department Plymouth Fire Department Ahoskie Fire Department Camden Fire Department Weeksville Fire Department Murfreesboro Fire Department South Mills Fire Department Sunbury Fire Department Norfolk Fire Department Chesapeake Fire Department Portsmouth Fire Department IXL Fire Department \ < Harvey Point Testing Base Chowan Beach N.C. Forestry Service United States Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team Northwest Naval Radio Station N.C. Highway Patrol Perquimans County Sheriff's Department Chowan County Sheriff's Department Hertford Police Department Elizabeth City Police Department Edenton Police Department Perquimans County Rescue Squad Edenton-Chowan Rescue Squad Pasquotank Rescue Squad Salavation Army American Red Cross First United Methodist Church United Methodist Women - \ Combined Churches of the County Area Merchants [ All other volunteers and individuals / EERIE ? Shadows and a combination of frozen foam and water from the fire fighting present an eerie looking scene at the fire site Wednesday morning. Efforts are appreciated To The Editor: We would like to express our grateful appreciation to the firemen and many others involved in helping during Tuesday's fire. We are truly thankful for your brave and valiant efforts which saved our town. Also, we are so grateful for the miraculous preservation of our own homes which, as we watched Tuesday morning, we believed would surely be lost. We also appreciate the concern of those who offered help in repairing our homes and in giving us places to stay. We are indeed fortunate to still be living in such a sharing community. DAVID BREWIN, MARGARET BREWIN, LAURA BREWIN, ALICE BREWIN, JIM ELROD, CHERRI ELROD. Grubb St. Hertford, N.C. SPECIAL SALUTE While all firemen who offered assistance at the site of the recent Winslow Oil Company fire, we add a special salute to the members of the Hertford Volunteer Fire Department with whom the final responsibility rested: HERTFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF CHARLES SKINNER JR. ASSISTANT CHIEF LOYD E. "PETE" RIDDICK COMPANY 1 Capt Thomas Hurdle Lt Parker Newbem George Fields Wayne Henritze Emmett Landing Lloyd Lane Edward Leicester ? Billy Owens Roy Perkins W.A. Billy White COMPANY 2 Capt Edgar Roberson Lt Sid Eley John Beers Larry Chappell Keith Haskett Marvin Hunter Donald Hurdle Percy Newborn Francis Nixon Bob Reed VOLUNTEK^FFOR^^^md inflow, volunteer with the Per quimans County Rescue Squad, looks out on the scene after giving a firemen oxygen for smoke inhala tion. Maw volunteers worked long Rescue Squads Of Perquimans-Pasquotank-Chowan First United Methodist Church, And The Many Volunteers Who Served Through The Long And Arduous Hours ? U.S. Coast Guard Strike' Team ? Perquimans County and Chowan Sheriffs Dept. ? Hertford Police ? N.C. Highway Patrol ? i ' I ' Salvation Army ? John A. Holmes High School-Edenton ? Perquimans County Schools ? Mercer's Grocery-Hertford ? Golden Corral-Elizabeth City ? Anglers j Cove-Hertford & Jennette Fruif and Produce-Elizabeth City. We Are Proud To Be Part Of A Community In Which Each Helps His Fellow Man In Tlrjie Of Need, And We Sincerely YOU" Km
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Jan. 19, 1978, edition 1
4
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