Our History
Though this may sound as a very humble beginning, it possibly may mirror the inception of other rural fire departments throughout the country; with perhaps, a few exceptions.
In January of 1969, a meeting was called in the town of Indian Trail, NC to discuss the possible needs of additional fire protection in the surrounding area. Attendees from the Hemby Bridge - Sardis community were Leroy Rushing Jerry Easterling, Bill Randle, Archie Aldridge, and Nat Greene. Other attendees were residents from the Stallings and Indian Trail communities, the Union County fire marshal, the county attorney, and representatives of the county commissioners.
In May of 1969, after several follow up meetings, and community surveys, the commitment was made, and the name Hemby Bridge Volunteer Fire Department was decided upon. A board of directors was decided upon, and the following week officers for the department were appointed. Chief - Archie Aldridge, Assistant Chief officers - Morris Mathis and Ray Rushing, Captains - Jerry Easterling and Spurgeon Rowell.
The land for the new department was donated by Leroy Rushing. This really put some wheels underneath the movement, and so the donation drives, auction sales, and other various fund raisers began. Within weeks, a building committee was searching for building materials, and a separate truck committee began looking for a used pumper. A used truck was located in Winston Salem, and was purchased. Shortly thereafter, a 2½ ton Army truck was purchased through Civil Defense in Raleigh, which was then converted to a water supply truck. With no building in place, Carol Cunningham offered the bays of his Phillip’s 66 service station in Indian Trail as a location for the vehicles of the department. In the fall of 1969, after initial training, 45 active members made up its’ roster, and during December 1969, the department responded to 9 fire calls. Since all the members were employed full time, all meetings and work took place during the evening hours. As excitement built toward the beginning of the new building, members lined up their cars and trucks, and from the beams of the headlights of their personal vehicles, the men saw how and where to dig the footings for the building.
Tragically, on January 14, 1970, while responding to a house fire, the departments’ main truck was involved in a traffic accident, and was a total loss, as well as the other vehicle, but even worse, 2 people were injured, but glad to say, they recovered completely. Stallings Fire Department responded in our absence.
The men were determined, and with the help of the ladies auxiliary, they began fund raisers in order to purchase a truck replacement. Within 3 days, a gospel sing was organized by the ladies. Days later, the men of the department made personal pledges exceeding $1,000, and a large amount of that was collected in cash that same night. These men didn’t only go the extra mile, but more like 10 miles.
So began the Hemby Bridge Volunteer Fire Department. Over the next 20 years, fund raisers such as community auctions, gospel sings, poor man suppers, monthly fish fries and donations, the department arrived at a very crucial time in its’ history. Budget receipts was not sufficient to meet the need of newer, safer, and more efficient equipment, thus the men of the department sought financial stability through a referendum to sponsor the budget through the county tax system. By a majority vote, the homeowners supported the tax, and the department has continued to grow and meet the needs of the fire district, and providing mutual aide to other areas of Union and Mecklenburg counties. The above picture is the last view of our well used fish fry room, which was attached to the back of the station building. People would come from near and far to eat fish cooked in this room, and those who worked the fries still cherish memories of those days, when we were able to see and talk to our neighbors. But, as things changed through the years, so we were forced to change too......