City of Greer Fire Department - Station 1 history

GCFD started out as a volunteer department in 1840.

On July 12, 1843, the "Salem Vigilant Fire Company" is incorporated with the State of North Carolina, making it one of the first Fire Companies to Incorporate with the State, only second to Raleigh.

The community of Winston was formed in 1849, north of the town of Salem, to serve as the county seat of the newly-formed county of Forsyth.

In 1887, the department purchased their first rubber fire coats.

The first engine in Greenville, called the Neptune Fire Company, circa 1900

The first paid fire department was established on January 1, 1902, and consisted of a fire chief and 11 men.

On March 3, 1905, as a result of the growing area east of Salem, the old steam fire engine was transferred from the main station to the Eagle Hose Company.

Firefighters showing of their Webb Combination hose-and-chemical car, circa 1910.

The department began to buy motorized apparatus in 1911.

August 5, 1912, a the department received the first motorized fire apparatus - a Type 12 Triple combination motor car from American LaFrance Company.

In 1913 the towns of Salem and Winston merge, after which R.L. Hooper is appointed the first chief of the newly-merged departments.

In 1919 the city purchased its first motorized fire engine, a 1919 Seagrave.

On July 14, 1920, while responding to a alarm, a steamer slides on a wet cobblestone street, throwing D.L. Reavis and killing him instantly.

On November 28th, 1932 Chief Nissen is stuck down by a Greyhound bus while responding to an alarm at the intersection of Cherry and Six streets.

In fact, fire had destroyed the community's central landmark, the Pelham Mill, in the year of 1943.

On March 1, 1951, the city hired and trained its first integrated fire company.

In 1957 with the opening of Engine Company Eight, an additional 14 were hired - six of whom were dedicated firefighters and the others were both police officers and firefighters.

The Pelham Batesville Fire Department had its beginnings in a meeting held March 11, 1968 at the Old Mill Stream Inn Restaurant.

In 1973 Sandra Waldron was hired as a Public Safety Officer, making her the first paid woman firefighter.

Later research revealed that she was the first paid woman firefighter in the United States - over a Judith Livers who was hired in 1974 in Arlington County, Virginia.

July 21, 1980, Lester E. Erivin was promoted, making him the first African-American Fire Chief in North Carolina.

As part of an agreement with the residents of Pleasant Grove, the District's Station 2 was built in 1982.

Growth in the Woodruff Rd. area caused the need for yet another fire station, and in 1988 Station 3 at Five Forks was built.

Opening in May of 1989, the fire station, for its time, was a state of the art facility and has served the District well for nearly 30 years

Upon her retirement in 2001 she had achieved the rank of Battalion Chief.