Archive of posts filed under the History category.

Audio Recording from Commuter Plane Crash Response in Morrisville, 1994

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Here’s a surprise historical find, newly discovered audio recording of the 911 call, the dispatch, and the first 13 minutes of radio traffic, of fire units responding to the commuter plane crash in Morrisville on December 13, 1994. Listen to the recording at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwV4H5GVK_Y. It was contributed by David Ferrell, a Morrisville Fire Captain and …

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Renovations to Station 11 – December Update – Moving Day

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This is an ongoing blog posting about the renovation of Fire Station 11.  See Legeros updates below. See also ongoing Legeros photos. And here’s the official project site from the city. Contents 12/17/19 – Moving Day 11/24/19 – Nearly Finished 9/27/19 – Doors Have Been Added 6/25/19 – Interior Work Has Started 5/29/19 – New Bays …

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Air Ambulance Crash in Oxford, 1949

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This is a blog version of a pair of earlier Facebook postings on Legeros Fire Line. Here’s a photo and a news clipping about an early air ambulance crash in our area. Converted Cessna five-seat plane crashed near Oxford on August 25, 1949. Three aboard, the pilot and two nurses. Two died at the scene …

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Durham Rescue Trucks in 1974

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For your Friday enjoyment, here’s a vintage picture of Durham’s early rescue trucks. Left is the city-county rescue squad’s second truck, a late 1960s GMC van procured after the original late 1950s Civil Defense rescue truck was wrecked in November 1966. Right is the squad’s third and newly repaired rescue truck, with a new Ford …

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After the Attack on Pearl Harbor

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On December 10, 1941, three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a meeting was held at the State Capitol in Raleigh with 170 fire chiefs from around North Carolina. State Fire Marshal Sherwood Brockwell (pictured center) provided instruction on wartime fire protection. He had just graduated from a school conducted by the United States …

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History of Durham Fire Chiefs

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Storing here, for future reference needs. Volunteer Fire Department R. D. Blacknall, 1882 to 1886 TBD, as records from 1887 to 1888 were destroyed. But some known things include Howard E. Heartt was Fire Chief in September 1888, source NCSFA organizational meeting proceedings.  Howard E. Heartt, May 21, 1889 to Jan 6, 1891 Albert Kramer, …

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When They Closed Station 3 in 1917

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Found a piece of hidden history this week, about the original Station 3 at 135 East Hargett Street. That was the old Victor Company quarters, erected in 1898 for the all-black volunteer fire company. After the career department was activated in December 1912, the volunteer companies were disbanded. The old station reopened in February 1913, …

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Orange County Rescue Histories

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Let’s build a timeline. Histories of rescue services in Orange County. To be updated over the coming days and weeks. Based on this Facebook posting. See also this Google drive folder of research documents.  1963 to 1969 1963, Apr – Class project started by UNC Air Force ROTC cadets, for a civilian defense “operational survival …

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