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Is the perfect way to experience volunteer rescue first hand. A ride along can be a few hours to a complete shift, 12 hours.
Davis Corner Volunteer
Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc.
4672 Haygood Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Mail: P.O. Box 68785, Virginia Beach, VA 23471
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For many years Davis Corner sponsored a Junior Squad, 16– and 17– year-olds, males and females, who took basic first aid and fire suppression training. They were permitted to run as a “third” on an ambulance crew but were not allowed to respond on certain types of calls such as maternities and cardiac arrests. They were not permitted in the station after 11 p.m. and were required to maintain at least a “C” average in all their school subjects.
Juniors presented the Chief with their report cards and those whose grades were not satisfactory were suspended for the following grading period. If the grades did not improve, the junior member was removed from the rolls.
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1958 with an initial membership of approximately fifteen. Its members were mostly wives of the volunteer firefighters. During that first year the Auxiliary began holding the very popular Teen Dances on Saturday nights on the second floor of the fire station.
The Auxiliary also held street dances at Aragona Shopping Center to kick-off the annual fund drive and adult dances, bingo parties, and spaghetti dinners. Profits were split between the auxiliary and the fire department. Many other projects were supported, including the March of Dimes, the Heart Fund, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a neighborhood girl who needed to have her leg amputated due to cancer.
Over the years the Ladies Auxiliary donated money to the department to black-top the front of the Davis Street building, donated $1500 toward the purchase of a new ambulance in 1959, paid for first aid supplies, items for the kitchen, and coveralls for the rescue duty crew.
Beginning in 1965 a girl from the dances was crowned annually as Miss Davis Corner. Candidates solicited “votes” at a penny each. Miss Davis Corner and the Ladies Auxiliary participated in the Annual Festival at Knotts Island, NC.
The Auxiliary was the communication link to the men who did not have a monitor, calling them by phone when the station was dispatched to a fire call. The Ladies also brought food and drink to the station and to the scene of working incidents.
Eventually the name of the organization was changed to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. The Auxiliary was a member of the Virginia State Ladies Auxiliary to the Virginia State Firemen’s Association and the Virginia State Ladies Auxiliary to the Virginia Rescue Squad Association (now the VAVRS—Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads). Auxiliary members Virginia Spencer and Jan Williams both served as President for the state fire association auxiliary.
In 1966 the Ladies stole into the kitchen during the December business meeting and left a surprise of Christmas goodies. This annual “surprise” continued every year thereafter until the Auxiliary disbanded in 2001.
Explorer Post 440
Explorers are the oldest group of the Boy Scouts of America and are career oriented.
In the early 1960s Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department wanted to start a fire and rescue post. Spencer Hill approached Howard George to ask if he would be a Post Advisor. Mr. George consented; however, he was not a member of the station so in the fall of 1964 he joined the station.
The Explorer Post 440 was chartered in December 1964 with Howard George as its Advisor. Charter members of the post were Bob Branum, Russell Cupp, Bobby Hill, Jimmy Hatstat, Robby Koelling, and Tommy Winder.
All Post 440 Explorers were trained and certified in American Red Cross Advanced First Aid, taking classes taught by Mr. George. The Post would go to Boy Scout camporees and provide first aid for the event.
Trained Explorers were allowed to tend to minor injuries at the camporees with Advisors supervising.
In 1970 Exploring was opened to females. Lynn Jodin was the first female in Post 440. The Post now being coed had to have a female chaperone so Kathy George was added as an Associate Advisor.
Explorer Post 440 was chartered for twenty-two years. At the time Howard George died in March 1987 it was the oldest Explorer Post in the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America. During his 22 years with the Post, Mr. George received many honors including the Silver Beaver, the highest Boy Scout award given to a volunteer.