Greensboro and Guilford County Ambulance History

Presenting research notes on ambulance, rescue, and EMS history in Greensboro and Guilford County. See Google drive of source articles (forthcoming) Read research notes (forthcoming). Timeline Pre-History 1910 – First ambulance is remembered as a horse-drawn unit, operated from 1910 to 1915. Was sold to a woman’s group, likely the Greensboro Ambulance Association, who mounted …

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Radiator Specialty Company Explosion – November 26, 1980

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from April 6, 2025. Looking back at the Radiator Specialty Company explosion and fire in Union County, NC, on November 26, 1980, from newspaper accounts in the Charlotte News and Charlotte Observer over the next couple days. On a Wednesday morning, just after 9 a.m., an …

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Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Rescue and EMS History

Presenting researching notes on the history of rescue and ambulance services in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Read research notes (pdf) See Google Drive folder of clippings. Summary Before 1960 1921 – First advertisements appear for ambulance services in newspapers. Operators are car and taxi companies. 1926 – Funeral homes begin adding ambulance services.  1947 – …

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Kernersville Helicopter Rescue and Crash, September 25 1984

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting on March 25, 2025 Recounting the fatal helicopter crash in downtown Kernersville on September 25, 1984, during the attempted rescue/recovery of an injured worker atop a decommissioned water tower. The incident started about 6:10 p.m. after 19 year-old Charles Glenwood Tompkins Jr. as injured while working …

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Siloam Bridge Collapse – February 23, 1975

Updated: March 25, 2025, with additional clippings and artifacts added to the linked Google Drive. This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from February 2025.  Here’s a short summary about the Siloam Bridge Collapse, that we learned about this week.  This happened on Sunday night, February 23, 1975, in Siloam, NC, on the …

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EMS Call Sign Changes

Belated posting. Adding here for the historical record. On September 20, 2024, Wake County EMS implemented changes to call signs as well as their staffing plan. Nine new transport units were added, to help with coverage during high-demand periods during the day as well as assisting during shift change. Three new shifts were created, to …

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1956 Pontiac Superior Ambulance

See more photos by Legeros Let’s take a closer look at Gene Lambert’s 1956 Pontiac Superior ambulance that recently appeared at two local events: the Garner Fireman’s Day parade in October and the Raleigh Fire Museum antique apparatus muster in September. It was originally owned by Apex Funeral Directors, today named Apex Funeral Home. They …

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New Hanover County Ambulance and Rescue Services History

Presenting research notes on the history of ambulance and rescue services in New Hanover County. View chart – JPG | PDF See below for selected notes. See this Google Drive folder for 200+ articles, including those referenced below. 1950s 1957, Feb – Cape Fear Ambulance Service was under new management, prices reduced, read an advertisement. …

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Wilmington Fire Department Rescue Squad and Ambulance History

Research notes on the history of Wilmington Fire Department’s rescue squads and ambulances. See second blog posting for wider history of New Hanover County ambulance and rescue services.  See also, Wilmington Fire History by Legeros.  1969 WFD placed first rescue unit in service. [SN, 6/30/71] Was a utility-type truck and was not equipped for transport.   1971, …

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Oldest Rescue Squads in North Carolina + Master List

Posting updated May 30, 2024, with banner graphic added. Database is also periodically updated with corrections.  Research notes on the oldest rescue squads in North Carolina. Originally compiled in September 2022 in this Facebook posting. Source data in this Google spreadsheet copied from Excel master file. Name County Status Start Stop Winston-Salem Rescue Squad, Inc. …

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