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HISTORY
On June 4, 1965 a group of
Leicester residents had a dream of organizing a volunteer fire
department. Through hard work and persistence, this dream became a
reality. At their regular monthly meeting, members of the Leicester
Grange, convinced of the advantage of having a rural fire district,
authorized the Grange to pay the chartering fee for the Articles of
Incorporation and appointed a committee to pursue it. Committee
members were: Gay Kennerly, Mack Rogers, T Mitchell Snelson,
Mitchell Stevens, and Ralph McIntosh. On June 10, 1965, the
committee met at the Leicester Youth Center. Other members of the
Leicester community in attendance were: Norman A. Randell, Dr John
G. Kerr, Hal Wells, Morris Lusk, Charles Steelman, Stan C. Sluder,
and Coleman Buckner. The committee elected a board of directors to
serve until the first annual meeting of the corporation. Members
were: Mack Rogers, Charles Steelman, Stan C Sluder, T. Mitchell
Snelson, and Ralph McIntosh. The Articles of Incorporation were
drawn up with 82 members of the community being listed as the
original incorporators.
On July 8, 1965, the Secretary of State of North Carolina approved
the Articles of Incorporation and granted a charter to the Leicester
Volunteer Fire Department, Incorporated. The Charter and Articles of
Incorporation were legally recorded in the office of Clerk of
Superior Court, Buncombe County, North Carolina on July 12, 1965.On
July 30, 1965, the first Annual meeting of the Leicester Volunteer
Fire Department was held. Acting Board President, Ralph McIntosh,
read the By- Laws and explained that they had been adopted from
those of the West Buncombe Fire Department. A motion was made by
Mitch Snelson to accept the By-Laws as read, seconded by Dr. John G.
Kerr and carried. The following Board of Directors was selected:
Ralph McIntosh, President; Mack Rogers, Vice President; Charles
Steelman, Secretary; Gay Kennerly, Treasurer; Glenn Rogers, Board
Member (Two Year Term); and Levi Hall, Board Member (One Year Term).
On July 4, 1965, the Board of Directors appointed Stan Sluder as
Fire Chief and Mitch Snelson Assistant Chief of the Leicester
Volunteer Fire Department. The Board of Directors met to work on the
description of the bounds of the Leicester Fire Department for the
first time on September 1, 1965. On. November 10, 1965, the Board
met and discussed the purchase of a fire truck. On February 22,
1966, Levi Hall reported to the Board of Directors regarding the
converting the old agriculture shop at Leicester School into a fire
station. This is where the fire department remained until October of
1978.
On October 8, 1967 an open house was held at the Fire Department in
conjunction with Fire Prevention.
1969
On March 8, 1966 the equipment committee reported to the Board of
Directors that a fire truck had been ordered from American La France
Corporation for the price of $16,090.00. Price included Truck, Hose,
Ladders, and ten sets of Firefighting " Turn- Out" Gear.
On September 15, 1969 The Board of Directors discussed acquiring a
permanent home for the Fire Department. The Leicester Youth center
was recommended as a possible site. On June 29,1970 the Board of
Directors discussed securing land located along the front of the
Leicester School as a possible site for a new Fire Department. On
October 31, 1974 Coleman Buckner reported that a portion of the
Frank Lowery property was available as a site for a new station. The
Board inspected this property and put plans in motion for acquiring
it and on April 18, 1975 the Board of Directors unanimously voted to
purchase the Lowery property for $11,000. Throughout 1977 and early
1978, construction was begun and continued on the new building which
would be the permanent home of the Leicester Volunteer Fire
Department and where the station remains to this day.
On September 15, 1969 The Board of Directors discussed acquiring a
permanent home for the Fire Department. The Leicester Youth center
was recommended as a possible site. On June 29,1970 the Board of
Directors discussed securing land located along the front of the
Leicester School as a possible site for a new Fire Department. On
October 31, 1974 Coleman Buckner reported that a portion of the
Frank Lowery property was available as a site for a new station. The
Board inspected this property and put plans in motion for acquiring
it and on April 18, 1975 the Board of Directors unanimously voted to
purchase the Lowery property for $11,000. Throughout 1977 and early
1978, construction was begun and continued on the new building which
would be the permanent home of the Leicester Volunteer Fire
Department and where the station remains to this day.
Here
are pictures of some of the original apparatus.
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LEICESTER FIRE & RESCUE
