DUE WEST FIRE & RESCUE
Due West, SC 29639
________________________________________________________
Welcome to duewestfire.com,
On behalf of the Due West Fire and Rescue Department, I would like to thank you for visiting our web site. This site was developed as a way to help the citizens of our community learn more about the fire department and the services we provide. Our goal is to provide our customers with a resource for fire prevention, public safety, and many other beneficial resources as well as keeping them informed of what we are doing. There are so many informative and helpful links on this site, and I invite you to visit us often as updates are continuously added. The men and women of Due West Fire are proud to provide fire and emergency services to Erskine College, the Due West Retirement Center, and the surrounding community. Hopefully you will never require our assistance, but if you do, please feel confident we will respond with compassionate, well-trained professionals to your call for help. We are blessed with a great group of professionals who are dedicated to serving others.
Sincerely,
The Officers of DWFR
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
__________________________________
One recollection of the Due West Fire Department from retired firefighter
Newell Bowie
Newell Bowie, November 11, 2007
My earliest memories of the Due West Fire Department were around 1933 and 1934. I was going to Due West High School at the time, school had just turned out that day and we, Roddy Smith and I, were walking up town to get our ride home, as we came up Washington St.and came to Main St. we realized there was a house on fire which was located about where the Erskine seminary is located now. As teenagers, this was excitement for us then, so we had to stop and observe and even help drag the hose around. There were no paved streets in Due West then and the only fire hydrants were located one on Main St. between Bonner and the Baptist Church. One hose was connected to a hydrant in front of this hose. The hose was brought up to this fire on a two wheel cart with wheels like a two horse wagon and had a T handle on it so two men could pull it to the fire or if a vehicle was available where a couple of fellows could sit and hold the handle of the cart. Please don’t go around a curve too fast or stop to quick because that cart would slide around or try to get up in the car with you.
After finishing high school, I went to work with the town utilities as an electrician, water work repairman, etc. The town was getting help through the Federal W.P.A. to install six inch water lines and to grade and have the streets topped with tar and gravel on most all of the streets in Due West. The city fathers then saw the need of a real fire truck. The town hall was built on Bonner St. and a room was provided for a engine driven fire truck.
Our second hand truck was being sold from the Chicago Fire Dept., I think it was Chicago or some where up that way, a 1915 La France Pumper or close to 1915. The steering wheel was on the right side, gear shift on the right outside, it had dual ignition, battery and magnetos, and a great pump you had to closely watch the pressure if a hose nozzle was suddenly closed pressure would cause a hose or hoses to burst since there was no pressure regulation on the pump. There was also a soda acid tank right behind the gas tank which was located right behind the drivers and one passenger and about shoulder high as you sat on the seat. There was no fuel pump so the tank had to be high enough so the fuel would flow by gravity to the carburetor. It took a fairly strong person to drive this vehicle as the steering ratio was very low, you turned right or left as close as you could without removing your hands from the steering wheel.
I tell you about the gas tank on this truck because of something that happened to me. I began to work for Hagen and Kennedy after about two or two and a half years, as a mechanic. The town was paying me $45.00 per month and Mr. Kennedy hired me for the same pay $45.00 per month, six days per week, 10 to 12 hours per day the same as the town paid. Anyway, Mr. Erskine Hagen was the fire chief. This old antique Sea Grave Fire truck had been well used and required a lot of upkeep and when there was a fire call Mr. Hagen wanted me to go along to take care of whatever went wrong.
On the particular occasion the call was to Dr. Lesesne house on Poverty Hill S Main St. where Terri now lives by this time the streets having been paved surfaced Anderson St-Abbeville St. was the main road and was graded a bit higher than Main as usual the old Sea Graves was coughing and hucking. The fuel line was partially plugged. Mr. Hagen said to me blow into it the gas tank and keep pressure on the gas. I took the cap off the tank and began to blow with all my might, holding the pressure with my mouth and taking a breath through my nose. Yes Hagen was continually saying “Blow Newell Blow!” When we hit the hump in the road at the Baptist Church crossing and What A Mouth Full Of EXXON Gas even swallowing some. We got to the fire, Mr. Hagen left me to attend the truck. I was afraid to go near the fire for fear my breath might catch on fire and I might EXPLODE!
On this old truck I often rode lying on the right fender, holding on with one hand and holding and operating the carburetor with the other or something like that.
How did Mr. Hagen get the fire calls? A siren was installed on top of the city hall and a switch for the siren was in the telephone office which was upstairs in the corner room of the old bank and whatever building when a fire call to the telephone central office, it would call the operator on duty and they would open the corner window overlooking Bonner St. as Mr. Hagen and other firemen heard the siren and then the telephone operator would yell down and tell where the fire was located. We did serve a few houses and several chimneys during those days, believe it or not.
Up to now this old method was the best the town could offer. The Hagen and Kennedy Standard Oil Station was located beside the old water tank, the legs of the old tank was located on the far edge of the Sub Way Parking Area. In 1953, Mr. Hagen and Mr. Kennedy build a new building, the present independent station on Main Street. The Abbeville Co. Rural Telephone Coop was formed somewhere before 1953 so the Central Office fire notification system kind a came to a halt. I lived out of town and went in military service in 1941 and I’m not to sure what all may have taken place until early 1946, I came back and worked for Hagen and Kennedy until 1949 and then back to H&K in 1953 after the new shop was built. The old Sea Graves served the town until somewhere near 1955, I moved to Due West, I believe the new Ford fire truck arrived after I came back to Due West, Mr. Hagen was still fire chief. I think Claude Graves served as short while after Mr. Hagen resigned from the position due to his health and business. Charles Hawthorne served as chief for a spell then followed by Bright Lowry. I never served as chief since a large part of the early time I lived out of town in the Arborville Community. After I moved to Due West, Mr. Hagen being my boss, so to speak, I never wanted the job; the fire chief then had public funding inspections to make. Then I went to work for the Chemstrand Plant in Coronaca in 1959. I decide I would retire from the fire department when I became 60 years old that occurred in 1978. I saw people that tried to stay on after that age and younger firemen had to stay with the old men and keep him from hurting himself or cause others to be hurt. I enjoyed my association with the firemen of Due West; generally it was a good group. It’s not a job for a timid and fearful man I’ll tell you.
I believe it was after 1955, a Mr. Wells conducted a week of classes for us he was an ex chief and a good instructor and was very helpful. He also came back several times with shortened times of instructions.
Note: Please if you feel I am wrong with dates, chiefs, etc make changes as you see fit. The town clerk may be able to verify some of the dates. Even thought I’m not connected to the counsel, firemen, or town officials in any way, I’m proud for you all and what you have done. I said before I say again I believe the working utility and firefighters is in the best hands Due West has ever had.