‘How Far We Have Come’

Effinger Fire Department Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On a sunny Saturday with the deciduous trees just about to take on their autumnal gilded appearance, the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its golden anniversary at the firehouse with food, friends and firefighters from past to present.

Linsay Clemmer Jones, the youngest child of J.D. Clemmer, the late longtime member of the department and its chief nozzle man at the department’s founding in 1976, gave the program that afternoon. She invited those present to take a step back in time and remember how the department got its start.

“The story has been told that in the fall and winter of 1975, there had been several bad fires in our community,” Jones said in her remarks. “Those fires really got people talking about the need for a fire department here in Effinger. My daddy, J.D. Clemmer, had also been approached by other people in the community about the need for a fire department. After hearing people talk about it, Daddy mentioned the idea to one of his neighbors. They told him, ‘J.D., you have come up with some crazy ideas, but this might be your best one yet!’” But eventually having a local fire company didn’t seem like such a crazy idea and the neighbors began to realize that with fundraising and a little help from a neighboring fire department, the idea of having a firehouse in the Effinger community didn’t seem so far fetched.

Effinger Volunteer Fire Department was organized on Feb. 16, 1976. Back then it was housed in a two-bay wooden building that had formerly been used by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Community members still refer to it as the old firehouse today. The fire company had two trucks, one which was donated by the Kerrs Creek Fire Department and one purchased from the Glasgow Fire Department for $17,000. It was thought that the loan for the truck would be paid in three years, but thanks to generous support from the Effinger community, the debt was paid in full in 15 months.

On April 16, 1976, the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary was organized. “They became an important part of our department and our community, helping with fundraisers, supporting the firefighters, and doing so much to help keep the department going,” said Jones.

That small building served as the Effinger firehouse for five years. From the start, fundraising was important factor in the survival of the fledgling department.

“One of the first big fundraisers was making apple butter at the Palmer Community Center, because we didn’t have hot running water at the firehouse,” said Jones. “There were also shooting matches, with windows cut into the old firehouse for them. Those were some good times!”

But the sales of the department’s apple butter became one of the biggest fundraisers throughout the department’s history. An antique caldron used to make apple butter was among the artifacts on display Saturday.

The current building was completed in 1981.

“The land was donated by a local community family, and our department continued to grow,” said Jones.

In November 1992, the department expanded its services to include EMS.

Around this time, the department began cooking its famous barbecue chicken. At first the chicken was roasted down by the creek behind the firehouse.

“It was a little too close to the creek, so we eventually moved a little farther up the bank and built the chicken pit that is still being used today,” Jones said.

The barbecue chicken events were often held in conjunction with the department’s carnival, which took place in May.

“I have to say, my daddy absolutely loved carnival time,” said Jones.

In particular, J.D. Clemmer loved drumming up support for the firehouse’s annual raffle. Jones displayed what is believed to be one of the oldest raffle tickets from the department’s earlier carnivals.

“Just holding onto something like that reminds us how much has changed — and how much has stayed the same,” said Jones. “Over the years, we have had so many different fundraisers ‒ Effinger School reunions, donkey basketball, softball and baseball tournaments, and many more. But I think we can all agree — the carnival was the best of all!”

In 2018, the carnival was unofficially retired and a lawn party with bounce houses, bingo and an opening night parade was held. That was the year J.D. Clemmer’s health began to decline and his family needed to focus on his recovery.

“I know we can never go back and do all the things that were done throughout the years to make this place as lively as it was back then,” said Jones. “But we can keep that spirit alive.”

Outside the firehouse on Saturday, children romped on bounce houses and played carnival games to win prizes. Inside, people could peruse the many scrapbooks on display and examine the old fire equipment. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, barbecue and French fries were prepared in the department’s recently updated kitchen.

During the program, the charter members present and the current members were recognized. Ellis Irvine, who is both a charter member and a current member, was presented with a plaque for his 50 years of continuous service.

“Just think about how far we have come — from that little two-bay wooden firehouse with two trucks to the department we have today,” Jones said. “And none of that would have been possible without our charter members and every member who came after them — past and present — who gave their time, worked the fundraisers, answered the calls, and helped keep this department going. We can continue to come together as a community, help our neighbors, support one another, and do what we can to protect and save lives here in our Effinger community.”