Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
Administrative Information
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The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew Collection, WLU Coll 0794, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
The First Aid Crew of The Lexington Fire Department began at a February 27, 1935 meeting, with the organization of a First Aid Class. The Lexington First Aid Crew became a part of the Lexington Fire Department on April 6, 1936. The name of the Lexington First Aid Crew became the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew. The Crew celebrated their 10th anniversary in 1945. The Lexington Gazette of March 6, 1935, carried the following artice: "When several Lexington citizens gathered at the Fire House on Wednesday, February 27, and perfected plans for a First Aid Class, they took one of the biggest steps made here for sometime toward insuring public safety." And so began the First Aid Crew of the Lexington Fire Deparment, later to become the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew.
Scope and Contents
Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew collection includes loose scrapbook pages of correspondence, 1949-1953, thanking them for their services, newspapers clippings, and photos, which include group photos, 1935 to 1959. The drownings of Harry Smith and Lillie Linkswiler Myers (Flood of 1950), 14 year old Edward Hughes, 15 year old Larry Nelson of Decatur, 11 year old Fred Gross (James River), and two brothers Donald (20) and Albert (23) Sisk, of Salem, Virginia. The fires of Lexington Stuart Building, Hamric & Sheridan Jewelry store, W&L Chapter Delta Upsilon Fraternity fire, Willow Grove home fire, and three Bedford, Virginia stores. Carol Hardiin burn victim in Natural Bridge. The Lions Club presents wheel chair, May 1953. A Civil Defense Drill held in Waynesboro, Virginia, 1958, and a Lexington Maury River Training meeting in 1959. Fire Department Centennial Celebration, August 24, 1950. Images of Lewis Watts, who gets arms, Mrs. R. Miller and J. Robinson, Lucy Davis 101, and Mr. Mackey. Articles concerning Lexington Hose Co. No.2, Rev. Ernest Johnson, Leslie L. Weaver retires from Post Office, and B. Lee Kagey. Also included is a booklet entitled, "A Brief History of the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Inc., Lexington, Virginia," loose newspaper clippings 1954-1985, a program booklet for the 34th Annual Convention of the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads August 21, 22, and 23, 1969, Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia, American National Red Cross 1967 certification cards for Dewey W. Burks and Wayne Burks, 51st Annual Convention Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. tickets for Wayne and Anne Burks, September 26, 27, 28, 1985, Virginia Beach, Virginia and Friday Night Social and Awards Banquet and Installation of Officers tickets, Virginia Beach Pavillion, and group photos.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African Americans--Virginia--Lexington--History
- Lexington Fire Department (Lexington, Virginia)
- Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew (Lexington, Virginia)
- Roanoke Life Saving Crew (Roanoke, Virginia)
- Virginia -- Lexington
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Virginia -- Bedford County
- Virginia -- Glasgow
- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
- Virginia -- Lexington
Container List
Newspaper articles include the following: Stonewall Jackson Hospital Dedicated, Rinker family killed in car wreck, Memory of Melvin Miller, Rescue Squad 50 years anniversary, Police Chaplains program for Lexington Police Department, Lexington-Fairfield unit of the Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council Honored, Michael Daren Farrish killed in car wreck, and Cost of Crew Headquarters. Members of the Lifesaving Crew recognized at a Community Vesper Service at the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lexington, Virginia. Program for the 34th Annual Covnetion of the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads, Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia. American National Red Cross certification cards belonging to Dewey W. Burks and Wayne Burks. Tickets for Anne and Wayne Burks for the 51st Annual Convention, Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the Friday Night Social and Awards Banquet and Installation of Officers, at the Virginia Beach Pavilion.
Includes photos of the Lexington Life Saving truck, Lexington and Life Saving and First Aid Crew boat and exhibit in front of the Rockbridge County Courthouse, Lexington, Virginia. Also included ar two photos of the construction of the new First Aid Building, Spottswood Drive, Lexington, Virginia.
This folder includes material on the following: Rockbridge Suffers Worst Floods in History; Oxygen equipment in operation; member Walter Bingham died; Inventory November 1950; Edward Hughes, 14 year old drowns in Maury River; photo of Lexington Fire Deparment receiving first aid training; thank you letters to crew for their service; History of the Lexington Fire Department, which began in 1796; and new Holger Neilson method of resuscitation exhibited in Clifton Forge, Virginia.
This folder includes material on the following: Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew celebrating Tenth Anniversary and Equipment: Past and Present including the Lexington Fire Department; W&L Fraternity Phi Kappa Psi entertained crew; thank you letters to crew for their service; two undated inventories; B. Lee Kagey Heads First Aid Crew; photo of walkers received and members of crew; and three photos of Leech farm event.
This folder includes material on the following: Willow Grove mansion fire; Larry Graves, 15 years old, drowned in Rockbridge County pond, near Decatur, Virginia; Fred Gross, 11 years old, drowned in James River at Big Island, Virginia; photos of Lexington, Virginia Christmas parade Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew float, in front of the Lexington Fire Department; District No. 1 Training and Meeting on the Maury River article and photos; and a Civil Defense Drill starts in Waynesboro, Virginia, with a mock disaster of a plane crash in business section of the town.
This folder includes material on the following: Thank you letters thanking crew for their service; Bedford, Virginia stores fire; group photo of Hose Company No. 4, Harrisonburg, Virginia; brothers Donald Sisk, 20 and Albert Sisk, 23 of Salem, Virginia, both drowned at Rocky Point, Virginia, in the James River, five miles north of Buchanan; Lexington First Aid Crew presented Wheel Chair by the Lexington Lions Club, article and photos; First Aid Crew under sponsorship of the Lexington Fire Department organized in 1935; and a letter to Lexington Fire Department from the President of the Washington and Lee Chapter of Delta Upsilon, concerning their fire.
This folder includes material on the following: Rev. Ernest Johnson back on his feet; article with identified photo of the 1890 Lexington hose company No.2; thank you letters to crew for their service; photo of Charter members who formed the First Aid Crew in 1935 and members of The Fire Department; photos of 101 year old Mrs. Lucy Davis and family, and a photo of Edward Mackey using a walker; a photo of the First Aid Crew, taken in 1936 at unidentifed fair grounds; Lexington Life Saving and Fird Aid Crew Has Served Rockbridge County for 17 Years Without Compensation; Crew volunteer member, Leslie L. Weaver Ends 46-Year Postal Career; B. Lee Kagey Is Again Crew Head; Lewis Watts (nephew of Leroy Richards), 19 years old, interviewed for limbs and gets long sought arms; Photos of crew and truck, Mrs. R. Miller, and J. Robinson; Lexington Fire Department had beginning in 1796; Lexington, Virginia Stuart Building fire; and Fire Deparment Centennial Celebration.
This folder includes material on the following: Carol Hardin, burn victim, helped; First Aid Crew has excellent record article with photo, showing some of the crew and Walter Mackey; photo of the Women of New Monmouth Church at Kerrs Creek, Virginia entertained members of the Lexington Fire Department and First Aid Crew at a dinner in their fellowhip hall; photo of Glasgow, Virginia James Lees and Sons Co., Lexington fire deparment and first aid crew banquet; First Aid Crew marks 20th Year; Colonial Beach Squad takes part in two relay transportation with other squads, which included the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew; Hamric and Sheridan Jewelry Store fire, Lexington, Virginia; descriptions of Life Saving Crew work; VFW presents more equipment to the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew; Flood kept First Aid Crew on Job; and thank yous for the Crew's service.