| SHILOH-ZION VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA |
| THE BEGINNING In 1958, a group of residents of the Shiloh and Zion communities met at Shiloh school to organize a fire department. The instigation for this was caused by our watching a house burn to the ground. This home was owned by Mr. Heath Gay and his faimly. We residents decided this would not have happened if we had a fire department or most importantly, a truck. At that time Lancaster Fire Department was not allowed to come this far for fire calls. We called Mrs. Estelle Wilson of Wilson Insurance Agency to meet with us to advise us. Approximatly fifteen people met at Shiloh School for this first meeting. We nominated Mr. Caldwell McAteer as president but he could not attend at night. Mr. Hubert Neal was then nominated. Mrs. Sudie Caskey was elected as secretary-treasurer but due to bad health this was change to Mr. Sam Robinson. Our first supper to raise money was a Ham Supper at Shiloh School. Mrs. Hortense Pardue was in charge. We had Lancaster Bakery cook our hams in their big ovens. Later Senator Roddey(deceased) met with us and went to Columbia to get a grant and a charter. Mr. Caldwell McAteer donated the land for the building on the Monroe Highway. Mr. Fred Parks donated the shingles. Mr. Archie Steel laid the blocks. Numerous people gave of their time and money toward the completion of the building. Mr. Hubert Neal, Mr. Manley Belk, Mr. Caldwell McAteer and Mr. Leslie Draffin went to Ridgway to purchase our first fire truck. Mr. Edgar Starnes was elected our first Fire Chief. The following persons were some of the charter members of the Shiloh-Zion Fire Department: Mrs.Sudie Caskey, Mr. Paris (Shorty) Caskey, Mr. Caldwell McAteer, Mr. Hubert Neal, Mr. Sam Robinson, Mr. Manley Belk, Mr. Leslie Draffin, Mr. Eugene Heath, Mrs. Hortense Pardue, Mr. Roy Pardue, Mr. Edgar Robinson Jr., Mr. Winford McAteer, Mr. Toy Vick, Mr. Cecil Starnes, Mr. Julian Rollins. Also included were Mr. Edgar Starnes, Mr. Lee Rollins, Mr. Luther Rollings and Mr. Billy Pardue. There were others whose names were not available. This is a brief history of the beginning of Shiloh-Zion Fire Department. This was a momentous occasion for our communities. This history was written by Mrs Sudie Caskey June 14, 1998 |
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