JANUARY 2011 - FEATURED DEPARTMENT

GREENBACKVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.
STATION 2

Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

        The Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) was organized on February 14, 1956, following several destructive fires that occurred in January 1956. Located in the far northeastern corner of Accomack County, the community of Greenbackville is uniquely situated on the Virginia/Maryland border. 

        The organization began with $1,000 that was pledged during a special-called town meeting, which was held in the former Greenbackville High School. During the meeting, temporary officers were elected; Mr. Woodrow "Woody" Dryden served as the first fire chief and Mr. Merrill Marshall was elected as the first president. A used 1938 International pumper, equipped with a small front-mount pump was soon purchased from the Lombarde Beach, MD Fire Company, and was the department's first fire engine. Needing a place to store the "new" engine, a temporary, un-official firehouse was established in a small barn owned by Mr. Nelson Collins that was located on Front Street in Greenbackville. 

        Due to the limited funds available at the state and county level, several Chicken & Dumpling suppers were held in the former schoolhouse to raise money for the newly formed department. A Ladies Auxiliary was formed shortly after the company was organized, and was very supportive to the firemen. After adequate funds had been raised, a second fire truck was purchased in March for $600 from the New Church Volunteer Fire Company. This truck was a 1947 Ford, equipped with a "boiler" for a tank that carried 500 gallons of water. 

        On April 10, 1956 the company was officially chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and in doing so, was now eligible to receive $1,000.00 from the County of Accomack. The membership borrowed $4,500 from the Hallwood National Bank, hired a carpenter, and in May 1956, the cornerstone of the firehouse was set in place. Except for the laying of the cinder blocks, the remainder of the work on building the firehouse was completed by volunteers. On October 28, 1956 the building was dedicated.  
    
        In an order to raise money, several fundraising ideas were implemented. The first being a weekly trash collection that began in May 1957. The initial cost was only $.25 per week and members collected trash in the town of Greenbackville. This tireless duty was performed until December 1980, when, after many years of discussion, it was finally deemed non-profitable. 

        Another fundraising idea was in the order of a treat almost everyone enjoys: Homemade Ice Cream. According to Past Fire Chief Charles Bodley, it was during the late 1950's, that members first began selling ice cream by the cup during the numerous suppers and it quickly became popular. Realizing that money could be made selling the treat, a motion was made and carried to make the delicacy and sell it by the quart to the public. To this day, members still make and sell Homemade Ice Cream annually in three flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate & Pineapple. Several other fundraisers are also held each year, including two golf tournaments, a raffle, beef & dumplings dinner, fall seafood extravaganza and numerous other events.  

       During 1978, a committee was formed to investigate forming a Rescue Squad. After months of discussion, it was decided to begin ambulance service, since the closest ambulance was over 12 miles away, in Snow Hill, Maryland. A used 1973 Chevrolet ambulance was purchased from the Ocean City, Maryland Fire Company. The unit was placed in service in 1979.

        After outgrowing the original firehouse, a new fire station was built adjacent to the older firehouse and dedicated on September 30, 2000. During the dedication ceremonies, special recognition was given to Mr. Richard Culver; Mr. & Mrs. C.D. Fleming, Jr. and Mr. & Mrs. Franklin Holland; whose contributions, among others in the community, helped make the construction of the new station possible.

        The modern station, located on Stockton Avenue, features three (3) engine bays, of which two (2) are drive-thru. The rear bays exit onto Ellis Street. Other amenities include a combination kitchen/lounge/meeting room, administrative offices, restrooms with shower facilities, decon room, engineer's room, air/cascade room, EMS supply room, communications room and an office for the career personnel. Located on a large mezzanine level, is a large exercise room and a storage area. Accommodations were also made for future bunk rooms, to be built on the mezzanine level. Located next door, the old firehouse still modestly stands and was totally renovated in 2004, to serve as a Banquet Hall & Community Center. The original "house siren” that was donated by the Chincoteague Fire Company in 1956 still occupies and sounds from the siren cupola, on top of the building.       

        During 2006, the department celebrated 50 years of service to the community. Events included a special Recognition & Memorial Service, Antique Fire Equipment Parade and a Firemen's Olympics competition. 

        Currently, the Greenbackville V.F.D. operates a total of eight (8) pieces of apparatus, including two (2) Advanced Life Support Ambulances, one Engine, one Tanker, one Truck (100' aerial), one Rescue truck, one Brush unit, and a utility vehicle. For water related emergencies, members also house an 18' Boston-Whaler Rescue-Boat that was donated to the department several years ago. Current membership consists of 27 active Fire, EMS, and Support members; 10 Probationary members; and 2 Cadets. The department also has 5 living charter members and several inactive & associate members. In addition, two (2) Accomack County Department of Public Safety (DPS) fire-medics, staff the station Monday - Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. As aforementioned, the department continues to have an active Ladies Auxiliary, one of the very few auxiliaries remaining on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.   

        Station 2 provides primary Fire & EMS services to the residents of Greenbackville, including the planned residential community of Captain's Cove; Sign Post; and the northern area of Horntown. During 2009, the department answered 72 fire incidents and 266 EMS incidents. Greenbackville's neighboring mutual-aid departments are Worcester County, Maryland Station 200 - Stockton to the northwest, and Stations 1 - New Church & Station 20 - Oak Hall Rescue (EMS) to the southwest. 

        We would like to extend our thanks to the members of the Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department, for providing the information needed to compile this article. All of the photos appearing in the slide show were courtesy of the GVFD.

Contact Information:
Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 
1479 Stockton Avenue
P.O. Box 156
Greenbackville, Virginia 23356
(757) 824-5251
Fax: (757) 824-4902

Visit Greenbackville's website at
www.greenbackvillefire.com

Fleet of Apparatus

AMBULANCE 2-1
  2008 GMC 4500 /  HORTON MODEL 555





AMBULANCE 2-2
2000 FORD E-450 / MED-TEC





ENGINE 2-3
1989 PIERCE LANCE 
1250 GPM PUMP / 1000 GALLON WATER TANK
CARRIES EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT





TANKER 2-7
2010 PETERBILT MODEL - 348 / FREEDOM FIRE
500 GPM PUMP / 3000 GALLON WATER TANK





TRUCK 2
1978 DUPLEX/PIERCE/L.T.I.
100' AERIAL DEVICE / 1500 GPM PUMP
(FORMERLY DES MOINES, IOWA - LADDER 7)





BRUSH 2
1989 GMC SIERRA - 3500
225 GPM PUMP / 250 GALLON WATER TANK





UNIT 2-9
2003 FORD E-350 SUPER-DUTY
  (FORMERLY OWNED BY OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND)