A brief history of the Bailey Volunteer Fire Department was provided by one of its leading members at the March meeting of the Center Hill Community Development Club.

Bailey VFD Chief Stanley Lucky spoke about the 55-year organization of volunteer firefighters. Lucky, a lifelong Center Hill resident, is also a member of the community development club.

Lucky began his presentation by encouraging club members to record their family history. 

“If our history is not preserved, personal or organizational, it will be gone,” he said. “Putting together the information for this program took a lot of time and work but I am glad that I did it.”

According to Lucky, awareness of Center Hill’s need for fire protection was first prompted when a local business owner’s store was destroyed by fire.

”M. E. Rogers’ store burned down Sept. 5, 1950, igniting a spark in him for the need of fire protection in the county,” he said. “After a neighbors house burned down in 1962, the spark became a flame in Murray Rogers heart to do something about this situation.”

In 1963, the Bailey fire department was organized and early meetings were held at Bailey Presbyterian Church. Original founding members included: Murray Rogers, D. F. McKee, Stanley Frazier, Albert Chisolm, Randal Davis, Jamie Newton, J. P. Ratcliff, O. Ratcliff, John Hedgepeth, Hollis McKee, J. J. Pilgrim, Lamar Snowden, Robert Hughes, Marvin McNeal and Herbert James.

“An old military tanker 6X truck was purchased for $500 out of Louisville, Mississippi, by members giving $100 apiece of their own money,” Lucky said. “This was the first volunteer fire truck for the first volunteer fire department in Lauderdale County. Thanks to the assistance from D. C. Henson and Chief Homer Webb of the Meridian Fire Department, the truck was put into service and the members received training. The VFD had its first fire in December of 1966.”

The early years were a struggle for funds. Along with member dues, many barbecues and other fundraisers were held to raise money to build a station to house the fire truck and buy gas. The truck, until the first building was built, was stored at Rogers’ service station.

“In 1967, the original 24′ x 30′ block station was built,” Lucky said. Early dispatch of the fire department was by fire phone…Members called at their homes to round up enough volunteers to send the truck out.

“In 1975, the county bought the first fire trucks for Bailey and other fire departments that had been organized in the county. The trucks were 1975 Fords with 1,000-gallon water tanks and 350 GPM pumps.”

The department continued to progress and in 1988, with some younger members and a whole lot more training, the rating bureau gave the Bailey VFD a Class 9 insurance rating which helped homeowners with the cost of insurance,” Lucky said.

In 1989, Chief Rogers retired and became board president until his death. Lucky was elected chief in 1989. The department had its first emergency medical responders in 1989, who, in addition to Lucky, included Kenny Rogers.

The year 1991 proved eventful for the department. 

“The county bought another pumper, a 1991 International with a 1,000-gallon tank and 1,000 GPM pump,” Lucky said. “This, along with the fire plugs that had been installed by the North Lauderdale Water Association with funds raised by the Center Hill Community Development Club, enabled the department to achieve a Class 8 insurance rating in August.”

The year also marked the first firefighter fatality when Raymond Brant died from complications after a house fire on Windsor Road. 

“It was a sad day for the department,” Lucky said.

The department continued to grow and in 2001, the Pine Springs department joined Bailey and became Station #2. A new station was built in the Shucktown community becoming Station #3. Two new fire trucks were purchased for these stations.

Lucky said much has changed throughout the years for the volunteer fire department. 

“We presently have three fire engines, one tanker, one brush truck, one rescue truck with Jaws of Life, air bags, thermal imaging cameras and watercraft for water rescue,” he said. “There are so many new advancements in firefighting technology that the old timers could not have even dreamed they would ever exist. Our hats are off for all of those who blazed the way , giving it all they had including their own money, to get the job done.”

Before concluding his presentation, Lucky shared photographs with club members.

The meeting opened with Brent Stephens presenting a devotional reading from “My Utmost for His Highest,” a book of devotions by Oswald Chambers. Chambers was an early 20th century Scottish Baptist and Holiness Movement evangelist and teacher best known for this devotional. Stephens read “You Are Not Your Own” with the focal scripture being I Corinthians 6:19. He closed with prayer, remembering those members and others that were in need and blessing. A potluck supper was served.

Center Hill CDC provided cakes and helped serve at the Forgotten Veterans Dinner, which was held at Frank Cochran Center. 

Club president Robin Doerner reminded members of upcoming events the club will participate in:

• Sheriff Department Appreciation Lunch, April 19, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Community clubs will provide cakes and other desserts, as well as serve.

• EMBDC Home and Garden Show, April 26. Local community development clubs will have a table set up with a basket to raffle. Clubs are asked to provide items for the basket and candy for patrons.  Lex and Alana LeBlanc of HGTV’s LISTED SISTERS  will provide the program for the event.

• A catfish fundraiser on April 28, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Gateway Church in Lauderdale. Plates are $10 each and funds will benefit A Home for Tyler. Along with the church, the 4-H and Lauderdale Community Club is sponsoring this event.

The meeting adjourned with the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Submitted by Cathy Clearman, reporter.