Wythe Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Squad

Fire Station 3

1430 Kecoughtan Rd

Hampton, VA

Wythe Fire & Rescue

The Wythe District Fire Department had its beginnings at a meeting, Thanksgiving night in 1909, in W. R. Wright's store at Franklin and Electric Avenues. Seven citizens including John M. Lynch, William E. LeCompt, A. J. Jackson, William Messick, W. R. Wright and W. G. Fraley attended the meeting called to order by J. Walter Smith, Sr. a Magistrate of the Wythe District, and a resident of the Riverview community. At this meeting, the citizens of Riverview voiced the need for a fire department in their neighborhood. Riverview was the most populous part of the Wythe District boasting 49 dwellings, 3 stores, a small school, and 2 churches.

On February 12, 1910 the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department was organized, meeting again in Wright's store with 40 members present. The first officers for the department included: John Lynch, Foreman; J. E. Pape, First Assistant Foreman; John Bunting, Secretary; W. H. Morris, Treasurer; and W. G. Fraley and William Prince, Trustees. Mr. and Mrs. Fraley deeded a lot on Darnaby Avenue to the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department "for as long as the organization was active in the extinguishing of fires in the community." On the endorsement of personal notes from the members of the Fire Department, money was secured to build a 20 X 20 one story frame building. The building was erected by members and friends in the neighborhood and the Department began to function in their new quarters.

As the activities of the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department expanded, financial support came in the form of donations from banks, individual county office holders and the Board of Supervisors of Elizabeth City County. Donations were also received from private citizens; however, a large portion of the company's income came from activities sponsored by an entertainment committee who sponsored oyster suppers, ice cream socials, smokers, dances, trolley rides, and turkey shoots.

In 1913 Riverview built a hose wagon that could be drawn by either horses or men. This wagon carried 750 feet of hose. Riverview also purchased two 50 gallon chemical tanks from American Lafrance and mounted them on a Ford chassis in 1915. This was one of the first motorized fire apparatuses in Virginia.

Wythe Company Organized

During that same winter of 1909, a meeting was held by W. R. Rawlings at a store operated by W. C. Perkins. Present at this meeting were: W. C. Perkins, W. R. Rawlings, L. M. T. Beal, W. H. Morris and Colonel William Thompson, a retired Army officer. At this meeting the group organized the Wythe Fire Company. The Wythe Protection Association gave permission for a fire station to be built west of the present association building fronting on Kecoughtan Road. Funds were secured and a one story fire station was erected.
On February 12, 1910, the Wythe Fire Company elected the following officers: W. R. Rawlings, Foreman; Colonel William Thompson, Secretary; and L. M. T. Beal, Sr., Treasurer.

Wythe/Riverview Merger

In 1919, nine years after each group had formed, the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department appointed a committee for the purpose of merging the two organizations, and pooling their resources, however, nothing was accomplished until 1921. A decline in membership in both companies due to World War I, as well as friction between the two companies caused the Riverview Company to appoint a new committee to pursue the organizational merger. The new committee drew up a bill to present to the citizens of the Wythe District that would levy a tax for fire fighting and maintaining a water supply. After receiving the support of the citizens, Nelsome Gromme, the county's representative in the House of Delegates was notified of the action and requested a special election. The election was held in August 1922 and the voters decided to levy a tax of ten cents on the $100.00 property valuation for fire fighting purposes.

Early in 1923 the two companies were finally merged under the name WYTHE DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENT. Two meetings were held in the Wythe Hall to perfect the organization of the merged companies. Bills were paid, surplus apparatus disposed of, the Riverview Engine House was donated to the Baptist Church and the lot on Darnaby Street was returned to Mr. and Mrs. Farley. The engine house of the Wythe Company became the new headquarters, and the White pumper from the Riverview Department became the principal apparatus for the new Department. The Board of Supervisors accepted the debt on the truck and relieved the note holders. The merged companies met again in March 1923 and elected officers under a new set of By-Laws. The department soon outgrew the quarters adjacent to the Wythe Protective Association, but not until February 1932 did the county provide larger quarters. The old Hooper-Hardy garage adjacent to the George Wythe School was purchased and the Department moved in March 1932. In 1939 efforts were made to still secure better quarters for the Department; however, progress was not made until October 1944 when ground was broken for a new station on the Hooper-Hardy property. The new station was first occupied in May 1945.

Equipment

Equipment from both companies was donated to the newly merged unit. Riverview received a reel and 350 feet of hose from the Hampton Fire Department, as well as two heavy rubber buckets, helmets, boots and coats. The Phoebus Fire Department donated a reel and 500 feet of hose. A hose rack previously used by the West End Fire Department of Hampton was also secured by Riverview. The White Pumper and the new LaFrance from the Riverview Squad were both used until May 1936, when the White was sold for $30.00 and the money turned over to the Department by the Board of Supervisors.

In 1939, members of the department converted a 1926 Packard passenger car into a utility truck that was used for brush and field fires until 1946. At that time a new Chevrolet chassis was purchased by the County and Oren installed a 250 gpm mid-ship pump and hose body with a 250 gallon tank, which was enlarged to 600 gallons. In 1949, a 750 gpm Mack triple combustion pumper was placed in service. This pumper proved itself at the Owings Warehouse fire when it was the sole source of water from the only hydrant available. In 1960, a 1,000 gpm Mack was placed in service. An additional three pieces of equipment were added to the building in 1966 and an additional 1,000 gpm Mack was added in 1971.

Involvement Around The State

The Department was honored to have J. G. Crenshaw, a former Department Foreman, serve as President of the Virginia State Firemen's Association from 1943 to 1945. He also was the President of the Tidewater Fireman's Association. Chief E. F. Ware, also a former Foreman in the Department served as secretary-treasurer of the State Fire Chief's Association of Virginia from 1941 to 1945, and as President of the Virginia State Firefighter's Association from 1960 to 1961. He also was the editor of the Association's newspaper for over 25 years. Ed Gwaltney was President in 1983 and 1984 and was later followed by his son, the current President, Larry Gwaltney. This is the first Father - Son President combination in the 110 years of the Virginia State Firefighter's Association history.
Members of the Wythe Volunteer Fire Company continue to be active in all phases of State Association activities; 4 of the Presidents of this Association have come from Wythe.

Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad Organized

The Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad was actually started in 1939 by a series of events that occurred in the Wythe District Fire Department of Elizabeth City County, which was precedent to the present Wythe Company of the Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue.
A first aid class taught in 1937 was the spark that made the Wythe District Fire Department first aid conscious and resulted in the formation of a first aid committee. This committee was charged with continuing the training and maintaining the first aid kits carried on the fire apparatuses to give first aid to members and citizens injured at fires. Soon after the Packard was equipped a call came in to the station that people were injured in an auto accident at Kecoughtan Apts. on Kecoughtan Road. Lacerations of the injured were bandaged and a broken leg splinted. The injured man was transported to Dixie Hospital and the Wythe District Fire Department Rescue Squad was born. The Packard was used to answer many more calls for assistance until August 1940 when Dixie Hospital donated a Buick ambulance to the squad. Although the ambulance was as old as the Packard, it permitted its driver, crew and patients to be sheltered from the elements. The ambulance was painted a bright red and served until 1943.

In 1952 the county of Elizabeth City merged with the Town of Phoebus and the City of Hampton and the name of the squad became the Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad. The squad handles in excess of 2,800 calls annually.

The Future

The Wythe Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad has been integrated into a more streamline organization, combining functions when possible. This was a reaction to the City's request for the volunteers to take a larger role in manning the station. Basically, prior to this request, the volunteers at Wythe were predominately in a reactive mode; the bells went off and volunteers went to the fires from their homes. Now, in addition to responding from home, volunteers schedule and man the station regularly. This helps the City with manpower shortages and allows the paid crews some time off. This has required changes in the management structure for the entire Company. Roles and responsibilities of the officers have changed and an extra level of management has been added. Each member, rescue or fire, is assigned to a platoon. This facilitates scheduling, training, and so forth.

Since 1990, the Rescue Squad has procured new state of the art ambulances with State funds and donations from the community. The newer ambulances have helped to provide a higher level of care, namely Advanced Life Support or ALS. For the last several years, members have been challenged to attain higher levels of certifications. This effort has proven successful in the medic program where over 15 members have graduated as ALS providers. Also, most of our firefighters are dual certified as EMTs. Volunteers have also helped with the addition of an engine, a 1995 Quality 1500 gpm. This engine added the ability to transport more than the typical four firefighters to an emergency. Ten firefighters can now be transported to any type of emergency.

The current leadership of the Rescue Squad, the Fire company, and the Volunteers have recognized the need to further improve the management and leadership skills necessary to continue to provide excellent service. The Booster program encourages participation by those who cannot respond to the actual emergencies. The Boosters were revitalized in 1992 after an inquiry by the wife of one of the members. It provides an opportunity for men and women to participate without responding as emergency providers. This group has been active in providing refreshments during emergencies and run fund raisers. They also participate in community fire and safety education. Without the communities support, the squad could not continue.