Article Recounts Early Years
Editor’s note: Next Monday is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Effinger Volunteer Fire Company. With that in mind, we are offering the following history of the early years of the department, which was printed in the book “Celebrate Effinger, 19222010” by Clinton L. Anderson and Henry A. Hatcher Jr. It was originally included in the “Rockbridge County, Virginia Heritage Book.”
Several fires in the Buffalo and Collierstown communities in the mid 1970s spurred the call for the establishment of a volunteer fire department in the Effinger area. Clinton Rhodenizer and Johnnie Clark approached J.D. Clemmer with the idea for organizing a fire company.
Kenny Bane had a similar idea. Ray Potter Sr. donated the land with a building that had formerly been used as a garage by the State Highway Department. The Kerrs Creek Volunteer Fire Department donated a 1946 Dodge fire truck. Other vehicles came later, notably a 1964 Ford pumper bought from the Glasgow department for $17,000. Members figured that they could pay for the pumper in three years, but the loan was discharged in only 15 months. Such an achievement was the result of the first big fundraising effort, the product of great community support, and a variety of good country events ‒ Effinger School reunions, woman-less weddings, donkey baseball games, softball tournaments, bake sales, shooting matches ‒ and perennial successes ‒ dinners, state apple butter competition and sales, and the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department Carnival, usually held every May. A food trailer was taken to the Rockbridge Regional Fair in July. In addition, the Auxiliary had special dinners and meals during the hunting season. Apple butter making was the specialty. The Auxiliary has received many awards, including the Virginia State Championship Award in Winchester. Helping with all phases of the fire company’s development was the auxiliary, an enthusiastic group of volunteers who have continuously been an important branch of the department.
The Effinger Volunteer Fire Company was, in fact, organized on Feb. 16, 1976, with the following charter members: Clinton Rhodenizer, president; Johnnie Clark, vice president; William Leech, secretary; Charles Potter Sr., treasurer; the Rev. James Guthrie, chaplain; Haven Nicely, chief; Glen Leasure, assistant chief; Stuart Deacon, captain; Kenneth Bane, chief engineer; J.D. Clemmer, chief nozzleman; Wilton R. “Tink” Deacon, director; Melvin Ayers, Lawrence R. Black, Benjamin T. Brown, J.W Allen Brown, Delmas V. Clark, Jerry W Deacon, Billy E. Fishpaw, Harold V. Goodbar, Sr., Ernest F. Hostetter, Carl H. Hostetter, Jerry L. Hostetter, Pat G. Irvine, Keith J. Irvine, Ellis C. Irvine, Steve G. Johnson, Larry C. Leech, Bruce W Martin, Peggy A. Manley, Robert E. Plogger, William S. Potter, Clarence B. Potter, Paul E. Rhodenizer, Charles D. Reid, Leonard J. Reiss, William C. Schneider, Robert C. Thren, and Clarence D. Vess, members.
On April 16, 1976, the auxiliary was organized with Gloria Clemmer, president; Betty Clark, vice president; Ann Rhodenizer, secretary and reporter; Libby Clark, treasurer; Diane Bane, chaplain; Darlene McGee, historian; Evelyn Black, Lois Brown, Kathryn Clemmer, Mary F. Clemmer, Dottie Deacon, Florence Deacon, Pat Dudley, Bonnie Hostetter, Mary King Hostetter, Shirley Hostetter, Jo Leasure, Sharon Leech, Peggy Manley, Steve Parrent and Joan Potter, members.
The fire company organized a First Responder Group during November 1992, after the following members completed the required training: Mary H. Clemmer, Susie H. Emore, Carl Emore, Kenny Bane, Richard Reiter, H.V. Goodbar Jr., Betty Clark, Virginia Conner, Bob Hayslette, Ron Welling, Ray Lee Potter, Nicky Keen, Junior Southers, Tucker Knick and Melissa Southers.
