Fifty Year History
Of a
“Long and Glorious Struggle”
1928 – 1978
On the evening of May 21, 1928, a small band of fearless and determine ladies of the community gathered together for the purpose of organizing a group dedicated to assist The Volunteer Fire Company of Chesapeake City in their valiant, unselfish labors.
From this intrepid, sometimes faltering little group of eighteen ladies the following officers were elected:
President Mrs. Nellie B. Reed
Vice President Mrs. Z. T. Cooling
Secretary Miss Kathleen DeShane
Treasurer Miss Kathryn Schaefer
The Auxiliary owes a great debt of gratitude to the memory of Mr. Townsend Walter who offered various helpful tips on methods of organization and procedures.
When the organization was in its infancy, the men of the Fire Company came to its rescue and purchased an old house on Canal Street from the Wooley Estate and presented it to the Auxiliary. The members refurbished and used it for the purpose of conducting their meeting and holding benefits to raise funds for all the various worthy projects to which they had dedicated themselves.
From a record compiled by Mrs. Kathryn Schaefer Maloney in the year 1937, the lost on which the Fire House stands was purchased by the Auxiliary for the amount of $500. This, they presented to the Fire Company.
It was the privilege and pleasure of the Ladies Auxiliary to move into their beautiful, well-equipped quarters in May 1939. We were further privileged in June 1939 to hold a joint dedication of both the new fire house and Auxiliary rooms. The Auxiliary served their first supper in the new building. It was our please to entertain state offices of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association and Ladies Auxiliary on this suspicious occasion.
As the faltering steps of the “infant” group became more steady they decided to “try conquering new and bigger fields.” They organized a “marching band” for the purpose of accompanying the firemen to the various carnivals and parades. From the prize money they were awarded for appearance and marching precision they realized a sum of money that proved most helpful in the organizations work.
The first uniforms worn by our members of the marching band consisted of white “Hoover Aprons”, white shoes and white hose. These, our ladies wore with all the grace and charm of the “President’s Lady.” Later, they changed their attire to white dress, red satin capes with white lining, red pillbox hat, white shoes and tan hose. This change was made in the year 1939 and worn as long as the marching band functioned.
From my records, I note that Mrs. Kathryn Kirk Vouros know affectionately as “Miss Katie” was the leader of the band.
The main source of revenue for the Auxiliary’s treasury was the Annual Turkey Supper held in November. Every member literally “pitched in” and gave her “all” toward making these fund raisers the success they always turned out to be. In conjunction with these fund raising suppers another project was simultaneously successfully undertaken and carried out. Various property and business owners were sent letters of appeal for cooperation in carrying on the organizations work. To these appeals, generous responses were made and the treasury was further increased.
The modest sum of sixty cents was charged in the beginning for a turkey supper complete with all the “trimmins” and this was later increased to one dollar. Oh, for the “good old days!”
In December of each year the Auxiliary has for almost the entire half century of its existence held a Christmas party for the members to which the members of the Fire Company was honored guests. On This joyous holiday occasion it was the Auxiliary’s pleasure to present a most generous check to the Fire Company to assist them with their noble, unselfish work of “Firefighting”. The Ladies Auxiliary to the Volunteer Fire Company No.1 of Chesapeake City, Inc. can say with pardonable pride that they have presented to the Fire Company sums totaling thousands of dollars.
In addition to their major field of assistance they have also contributed generous sums of money to various other community projects. Among these are the Red Cross, scholarship funds, the community Christmas Tree sponsored by the Fire Company and various other worthy endeavors. Last, but certainly not least, they have assisted and labored tirelessly toward making the carnivals a success.
On the evening of Mary 21, 1953, a banquet was held in the fire house commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Ladies Auxiliary. To this memorable occasion came, The Honorable Theodore McKeldin, Governor of Maryland who was honored guest and featured speaker for the occasion. It is a day that will linger as long and fresh as the leave of an evergreen in our memories.
This ever-to-be remembered occasion was the beginning of a new era in the history of the Auxiliary. Fresh “new blood” entered our ranks and took up the “torch.” We, of a happy by-gone era, salute them with love, respect and admiration. They, like we of the first quarter of the Auxiliary’s being, have carried forth in their labors given unselfishly for the food of the cause.
Hark! comes the sound of proud marching feet who have down through our half century as an organization been our beloved leaders. The honored leaders we are privileged to pay homage to on this occasion are as follows:
Mrs. Nell B. Reed
Mrs. Miriam Walter Bennett
Mrs. Kathryn Schaefer Maloney
Mrs. Iler Lum
Mrs. John Mason
Mrs. Mildred Stapp
Mrs. Alice Kinter
Mrs. Esther Lupfer
Mrs. Elsie Loller
Mrs. Kathryn Kirk Vouros
Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens
Mrs. Alma Mewhirter
Mrs. Mima Mitchell
Mrs. Pat Whiteoak
Mrs. Doris Long
Mrs. Lillian Schneese
Mrs. Mary Schneider
Mrs. Marion Reynolds
Mrs. Laura Walter
Mrs. Marie Cooling
Mrs. Violet Hessey
Mrs. Phyllis Craig
Mrs. Elsie Staker
Mrs. Charlene Green
The roster of names is not listed in the order in which they served, but gathered from the faltering memory of your Historian. Each of these true heroines has contributed above and beyond her call of duty to the well-being and success of the auxiliary and we tend to you our everlasting gratitude and thanks.
A full book of history extolling the work of our beloved bank could be written; but I have in my feeble but sincere manner attempted to cover the highlights or our half century as a community organization.
With our hands linked in friendship may we continue to march forward in the light of the glorious, unselfish labors we have attempted and carried our as a Sister Organization working with our Fire Company.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy B. Lee
Historian