A brief history
Mid 1981 The Tri-community Ruritan Club met with Durwood Cratch, Chairman of the Beaufort Fire commission, and Col. Spivey, Area Management Coordinator for Eastern Carolina, to discuss the need for a fire department in the Sidney area. As a result of this meeting, it was agreed that a need was justified and a public meeting should be held to obtain community consent and support.
9/81 A public meeting was held at the Winsteadville community Building to discuss the venture. Croom, Jr. temporary chairman and Edwin Baldree, Charles foster, David Jones, Gary Smith, Delamar Sparrow, and James Younce, Jr. temporary directors to proceed with formation of the department. An attorney was hired to draw up articles of incorporation and by-laws. These were studied and revised at the Sept. 14 board meeting and returned to the attorney for final draft.
9/22/81 C. Croom met with the Beaufort County Fire Commission at Belhaven Fire Department to discuss formation of the Sidney VFD. The commission authorized Croom to proceed with the groundwork.
9/29/81 The Articles of Incorporation were approved by the state.
10/12/81 Board meeting at which the following officers were elected from the temporary directors:
President: James W. Younce, Jr. Vice-President: Edwin Baldree
Secretary: C. Croom
Treasurer: David Jones
These officers and the remaining directors were to serve until the first annual meeting in Aug. 1982. The revised incorporation portfolio was studied and adopted by the board. A search for land for the fire station was begun, as was a study to determine the requirements for the fire station building. An interest checking account was opened at Wachovia Bank in Belhaven to handle the department’s banking.
1/1/82 A public meeting was held at Winsteadville to discuss firemen and training required. John Buck of Beaufort County Community College and Doug Batts, Area Coordinator for fire Training, both spoke to the group on the various aspects involved. The 35 member group than selected Charles Foster as the first fire chief and voted to proceed with fire training as soon as possible,
4/26/82 The board accepted the generous donation on the one acre parcel where the station is currently located from Mrs. Mary Ralph of Belhaven. James Younce took care of having the survey completed and the deed drawn. The board contacted the local banks and the FmHA to see what kind of financing arrangements could be made to construct the building. The offer that best fit the needs of the VFD was made by Dick Ray of Southern Bank in Belhaven. A line of credit to construct the building was established at Southern Bank in Belhaven. The building decided upon was a 40' x 75' steel building with three equipment bays. Bids were tendered by four companies. The low bid of $26,675 presented by Jerry Cuthrell of Washington was accepted. Volunteers took care of the required site preparation, including clearing, grading, layout, etc. Labor for the electrical and plumbing work and installation of the septic system was also provided by volunteers. Final cost of the new building was $39,222. Loan from Southern Bank paid off 9/89 Loan from FmHA paid off 9/92.
8/2/82 The first annual meeting of the Sidney VFD, Inc. was held at the Winsteadville Community Building. Chief Charles foster reported that there were over 30 people involved with fire training sponsored by Beaufort Community College. He also reported the status of his search for a suitable used fire truck. The following Officers were elected:
President: James W. Croom
Treasurer: A. Humbles
Charles Foster remained Chief. The following individuals were elected as directors:
Three year terms: Rufus Elks and David Braswell
Two year terms: Mike Paul and Charles Foster
One year term: Woodrow Delamar, Glen Creedle, and William Leighty
9/13/82 First board meeting held at the new fire station. It was reported that the Beaufort County Commission had allocated $5,100 to purchase a radio “base station” and siren for the department. Tideland Electric donated and set the 50' poles for the siren and antenna.
11/26/82 Purchased SVFD’s first fire truck, a used Darley 500 GPM 750 gallon pumper for $3,000.
1/29/83 Purchased SVFD’s second fire apparatus, a used 1965 Chevrolet 500 GPM 1250 gallon tanker for $3,500.
5/24/83 Sidney Volunteer Fire Department (ultimately designated Station 81) was put “on line” by Beaufort County to answer fire calls and offer mutual aid to other departments. The first Sidney VFD call was for mutual aid to the Pantego VFD responding to a fire at Younce and Ralph Lumber Company. The first Sidney VFD fire call in its own fire district was to a dumpster fire at Ransomville (exact dates unknown).
