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Dedication
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History
In 1943 several buildings were destroyed by fire. They included: a combination store, garage, and barn owned by Herbert Britt; a barbershop and apartment also owned by Mr. Britt; Alfred Bronson's morgue which had been converted into a chicken house holding over 3,000 chicks; and George Wesley's apartment house. The explosion of a heating apparatus in the brooder house was the cause of the fire and over the approximate loss was $40,000. The first fire company to respond was the one from Harvey's Lake and townsfolk were afraid the fire would engulf the entire town before it arrived.
In January, 1945 George Bronson and Daniel Davenport (also served as the postmaster for Sweet Valley for some time)
set up a meeting of residents at the Church of Christ hall to establish a fire company. Forty two people attended. The original officers elected were: George H. Bronson, President, Wayne B. Callender, Secretary, and Daniel E. Davenport, Treasurer. Fund-raising efforts yielded $11,000. The largest portion, $7,100, came from the North Lake Association, the Back Mountain Lions contributed $1,000, individuals contributed another $2,000 and $900 was raised from roast pork dinners. The first piece of equipment purchased was a truck chassis from Warren E. Boston, a dealer in Pikes Creek. Wayne Callender loaned the fire company $4,000 to buy the truck and he and his twin brother, Warren, donated the land for the firehouse in memory of their parents. On that land Roy Callender had previously built a garage for his truck and later it was the location of a gas station run by Earl White and then Harold Cragle. The old building was torn down to make way for the fire house. George Wesley, Alfred Bronson, Sherm Kunkle, and Warren Boston drove the truck to the John Beane Pumping Company in Lansing, Michigan to have a "High Pressure Fog System" installed and to attend a 3-day training session. The truck was delivered, to much fanfare amid a chicken dinner, in March, 1947.
In January, 1945 George Bronson and Daniel Davenport (also served as the postmaster for Sweet Valley for some time)
set up a meeting of residents at the Church of Christ hall to establish a fire company. Forty two people attended. The original officers elected were: George H. Bronson, President, Wayne B. Callender, Secretary, and Daniel E. Davenport, Treasurer. Fund-raising efforts yielded $11,000. The largest portion, $7,100, came from the North Lake Association, the Back Mountain Lions contributed $1,000, individuals contributed another $2,000 and $900 was raised from roast pork dinners. The first piece of equipment purchased was a truck chassis from Warren E. Boston, a dealer in Pikes Creek. Wayne Callender loaned the fire company $4,000 to buy the truck and he and his twin brother, Warren, donated the land for the firehouse in memory of their parents. On that land Roy Callender had previously built a garage for his truck and later it was the location of a gas station run by Earl White and then Harold Cragle. The old building was torn down to make way for the fire house. George Wesley, Alfred Bronson, Sherm Kunkle, and Warren Boston drove the truck to the John Beane Pumping Company in Lansing, Michigan to have a "High Pressure Fog System" installed and to attend a 3-day training session. The truck was delivered, to much fanfare amid a chicken dinner, in March, 1947.