History of the Crewe
Volunteer Fire Department
Prior to and during the early 1900's, fire protection was provided by a group of men (town citizens and N & W Railroad employees) who formed a type of fire brigade to fight any fires that occurred. The men who were employed by the N & W Railroad were allowed to leave their jobs to fight fires in town. Their equipment consisted of two hose reels, fire hose and nozzles. One of the hose reels was located under the steps of the old Crewe High School and the other near the Crewe Baptist Church. The N & W Railroad had also run water lines to several locations in town and installed fire hydrants to supplement the town's water supply.
January 17, 1916 -Mayor Dr. H.C. Smith brought up the matter of a fire company for the town. He suggested that F. N.
Crittenden be the leader of this company since he had shown interest in the matter before. The Mayor also
suggested the town furnish the equipment needed.
March 6, 1916 - A Mr. Cooper asked Council to do all in their power to provide adequate fire protection for the town.
February 12, 1917 - Council voted that Mayor C.E. Wilson appoint a Fire Committee. This was done and W.W. Haley was
elected for night duty. (Mr. Wheary was to be notified.) No record was found as to what action was taken on these
requests.
January 5, 1920 - Councilman W.E. Cooper gave a speech regarding the possibility of a Fire Department being
organized. After some discussion it was moved and seconded that G.V. Robinette be elected Fire Chief, providing he
would do this. He was to be paid the amount of $5 for each fire at which he assisted. Mr. Robinette was to elect
three assistants to be paid $3 for each fire at which they assisted.
This was copied from the minutes of the meeting of Town Council from this date. It was the formal organizing of
the Crewe Volunteer Fire Department. There was no record of the number of members at this time; however, it is believed
to have been about fifteen. "ALARM SYSTEM" - The N & W Railroad assumed responsibility of sounding the fire alarm. The alarm was
a series of short blasts of the N & W Railroad shop's steam whistle. This could be heard for miles. We now
have a radio alarm system plus two sirens.
"EQUIPMENT" - December 12, 1923 the Council voted to purchase a fire truck from the Obenchain Fire Truck
Company, at a price of $3,300, F.O.B. Logansport, Indiana. This Model "T" Ford Pumper was our first piece of
motorized equipment. In 1937 the Fire Department purchased a 1937 Chevrolet Oren 500 GPM (Gallons per Minute) pumper.
The next pumper purchased was a 1951 Ford American La France 500 GPM pumper. In 1964 the Fire Department purchased a
Ford American La France 500 GPM pumper.
"PERSONNEL" - In 1920, when the department was formed, Mr. G.V. Robinette was appointed Chief. He held this
position until 1924. John Minnix was appointed Chief July 7, 1924 with E.A. Moore as assistant Chief. This is
recorded in the minutes of the Town Council from this date. (Other sources not written indicated that J. Minnix only
held the job as Fire Chief for a couple months. Mr Moore, at this time, was appointed Fire Chief and Mr. Minnix
Assistant Chief. He held this position until 1929. Due to a job change, Mr. Minnix had to move to another town and
Carlton Moore was appointed Assistant Chief.
"THE STATION" - On March 18, 2000, the Fire Department broke ground for a new fire station on land donated by
Norfolk Southern Railroad. W.A. Stratton of Appomattox, Virginia began construction on a new 12,580 square foot fire
station on July 18, 2000. On March 17, 2002 we moved into our new fire station.
As the Fire Department grew, a 1971 Ford 1200 gallon tanker was purchased from Slagle Fire Equipment
Company. This was followed by a 1974 Ford FMC 750 gallon pumper, which are both still in service as of 2007. A
Ford F250 Brush Truck was added in 1976. In 1985 a Ford FMC 1000 GPM Pumper with 1000 gallon tank was added. The next
unit purchased was a 1995 KME Custom Cab 1250 GPM pumper with a 1000 gallon tank. In 2002, the department purchased a
Pierce 1800 gallon Tanker, with a 500 GPM pump on an International 4400 chassis.
Mr. E.A. Moore held the job of Fire Chief until his retirement in May 1957. At this time the Council
appointed Carlton Moore as Fire Chief and his brother Elwyn Moore as Assistant Chief. Elwyn Moore held the Assistant
Chief's position until his death in October 1960. W.J Shorter was appointed Assistanct Chief in 1961, and resigned from
the position in 1965 because of his health. J.C. (Beans) Shorter and J.W. Chappell were appointed Assistant
Chiefs, with Sammy Jarrell and Mike Morgan being appointed Assistant Chiefs in 1985. In November 1990, Chief C. Moore
retired from the Fire Department as Chief and Sammy Jarrell was elected Chief at that Time. In 2003
Val Wilson took over as Chief and Joey Schnepf was
appointed Assistant Chief.