De Leon Volunteer Fire Department

VFD

De Leon Volunteer Fire Department 1947 in front of City Hall

L-R Standing:  M.D. Stewart,  C.L. Mohon, Charlie Nash, Ralph Terrill, Eldon Terrill, J.B. Horton, Willard Thibaud.

Front Row:  A.C. Craig,  Derwin Nabors, R.V. Bond, Tommie Mohon, Doyle Holmes, Delton Nabors.  

Photo by Gressett Studio of Rising Star.  De Leon’s Monitor Feb 6, 1997.

   In November 1934, the fire department replaced the fire bell with a siren.  The 7.5 HP alarm cost $340.  The fire department bought a new Ford V-8 fire truck on March 26,, 1935 which is probably the truck on the left as several years later a 350 gallon water tank and an engine powered pump were added to the truck.  In May 1951 the city purchased a new pumper truck equipped with a 750 gallon per minute pump, a 500 gallon tank and 1,500 feet of hose.  When this truck arrived in De Leon the fire department “made the drag” with its siren sounding to show off the much needed new truck.  Another new truck was added in 1953.

   Fire Chiefs included G.E. Hooker, Bob Wofford, T.H. Williams, Tommy Lawlwess, Richard Bond, Eldon Terrill, Wade Butler, Melvin Calhoun, James Otwell and Ray Hooker.  Richard Bond served as chief for 24 years and when he passed away, his casket was carried to the cemetery on the back of a fire truck

.  Information from the De Leon Free Press Centennial Edition Thursday, July 2, 1981.

    The De Leon Volunteer Fire Department was organized on April 7, 1908 with two hose companies and G.E. Hooker elected as Fire Chief.

   Hose Company #1 was made up of W.C. Lightfoot (Foreman), A.R. Jarrett (Secretary), Cager Mohon, Stan Dabney, S.S. Smith, J.O. Ham, Tom Boswell, R.C. (Dick) Carter, J.J. Smith, and B .W. Ayers.

   Hose Company #2 consisted of Evan Barker (Foreman), A.J. Garrett (Secretary), G.E. Hooker, R.L. Moreland, T.S. Ross, Lossie Mohon, Hugh Crow, John Mohon, W.C. Bagwell, John Hancock and Tad Carter.

   The fire equipment was housed in the first floor of the old Masonic Lodge (present location of the library) until the city hall was built in 1911.

Information provided by Cager Mohon in the July 15, 1949 Free Press.

De Leon’s Fire Department Racing Team ca: 1910. 

    In the photo on the left, the three men standing in the center (Mohon, Barker and Gregory) are sporting harnesses.  They pulled the fire wagon shown above while the others ran hoses, attached nozzles, and turned on the water.  Notice that Mr. Kimble has the starter’s pistol and Ottis Ham holds the nozzle for the hose.  The photo on the right was probably taken during the same session.  The harness men are seated in the middle. 

  Above: De Leon’s first fire wagon.  The department had two  hose reels with 750 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose.  Water was supplied from fire hydrants as no pumps were used.  The cart was saved by Jack Hasty.  Photo by Xandra Morgan Carter 1981.  Right:  The fire bell was initially located at the water tank in the intersection of Texas and Reynosa.  In 1911 it was moved down the street to a point in front of the new city hall and was later moved to the south end of that building when autos began to need more street room.  It was replaced by a siren in 1934 and stored behind the present city hall.  It is now located at the present fire station.

Standing (L-R): W.G. Kimble, Charley Ross, Johnny Hancock, G.E. Hooker, Dick Carter, Cager Mohon.  Seated: Elbert East, Lossie Mohon, Evan Barker, Curt Gregory, Ottis Ham.

Standing: (L-R) Elbert East, Lossie Mohon Evan Barker, Curt B. Gregory, Ottis Ham.  Seated: Johnny Hancock, Gould Hooker, W.G. Kimble, Dick Carter, Cager Mohon Charlie Ross.

Members of the De Leon VFD in 1981 in front of the city hall station.  Photo by Xandra Morgan Carter in 1981.