A Walk Down Memory Lane With The Volunteers Of Bay District (Lexington Park)
 
By Public Information Officer Douglas Medley
February 14, 2015
 

Let’s all take a trip down memory lane with the members of Bay District Volunteer Fire Department. Recently our President, Wayne Johnson, while going through his Dad’s fire department pictures found some that he thought everyone would be interested in taking a look.

So with the help of our Treasurer, Bruce Theden, who put them on my computer I thought I would share them with all of you. Now we started out as the Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department back in 1943 and in those days there was not much to do in what we called downtown Lexington Park so you joined the fire department. Having said that I know that some of you old timers out there or the children of a former member will recognize someone in these pictures and if you do I would love a phone call for you to tell us about yourself or your loved one.

We have recently erected a memorial for all our departed brothers and sisters of the department that we are really proud of and invite all to stop by the front of our social hall and take a look. So take time to take a look and enjoy the walk back into time with our members. Thanks to the family of our Past Chief Ben (Johnny) Johnson for turning the pictures over to us to add to our archives.
 
This is the turnout gear we used to wear. Year 1963.
This is the turnout gear we used to wear. Year 1963.
Me giving tour with the late Jack Frost in background.
Me giving tour with the late Jack Frost in background.
 
Puffenburgers Furniture Store on Great Mills Road next to Bill Raley's.
Puffenburgers Furniture Store on Great Mills Road next to Bill Raley's.
Unknown house fire.
Unknown house fire.
 
Unknown house fire.
Unknown house fire.
Departed member Gerard Britton sitting on Santa's knee during Christmas party for kids. Probably in the late 1960's.
Departed member Gerard Britton sitting on Santa's knee during Christmas party for kids. Probably in the late 1960's.
 
December 1964 showing new LaFrance our old Tanker and Ford down in the yard of house.
December 1964 showing new LaFrance our old Tanker and Ford down in the yard of house.
The late and most respected Charlie Donaldson after we had thrown him in the pond during our picnic at Sanners. Same place we do our drafting tests today.
The late and most respected Charlie Donaldson after we had thrown him in the pond during our picnic at Sanners. Same place we do our drafting tests today.
 
Sure some of you know where this is. The old Center Gardens apartments where we used to burn up quite often.
Sure some of you know where this is. The old Center Gardens apartments where we used to burn up quite often.
Our pride and joy during the 60's. I think it was a 1956 or so Ford. First line piece.
Our pride and joy during the 60's. I think it was a 1956 or so Ford. First line piece.
 
Selling Christmas trees at the Lexington Park station during the 50's. Les Hansen on the far left with Ronnie Lewis and Steve Bodnar.
Selling Christmas trees at the Lexington Park station during the 50's. Les Hansen on the far left with Ronnie Lewis and Steve Bodnar.
The old 65' ladder truck we bought from Hyattsville back in the early 60's. First time in a parade with I think Chief Johnny Johnson riding the front seat and I don't know who it is driving.
The old 65' ladder truck we bought from Hyattsville back in the early 60's. First time in a parade with I think Chief Johnny Johnson riding the front seat and I don't know who it is driving.
 
Past Chief Al King getting in the cab of our old diamond T for a call. First line piece.
Past Chief Al King getting in the cab of our old diamond T for a call. First line piece.
Old Tanker 3. Not sure what they were doing but a very young Les Hansen in background.
Old Tanker 3. Not sure what they were doing but a very young Les Hansen in background.
 
Yes we used to burn them up back in the day to.
Yes we used to burn them up back in the day to.
Furniture store on Great Mills Road.
Furniture store on Great Mills Road.
 
Notice not wearing any breathing apparatus. 1960's
Notice not wearing any breathing apparatus. 1960's
A young Keith Fairfax with Steve Schaffer getting the fireman of the year award back in the 1960's. Big award right.
A young Keith Fairfax with Steve Schaffer getting the fireman of the year award back in the 1960's. Big award right.
 
Had to show this one with Jim (yogi) Baird with the hat on sitting around with some of the guys at the old place.
Had to show this one with Jim (yogi) Baird with the hat on sitting around with some of the guys at the old place.
1958 picture of a firefighter (?) Would love to know who this was.
1958 picture of a firefighter (?) Would love to know who this was.
 
Guess what? I got a call this a.m. from past fire chief Fred Burris of Leonardtown who has been a great help with some names on these pictures so here goes. Left to right:Fred Burris, Gene Wood, Linwood Ramos, Bill Holly, Jr. in rear with Charlie Donaldson.
Guess what? I got a call this a.m. from past fire chief Fred Burris of Leonardtown who has been a great help with some names on these pictures so here goes. Left to right:Fred Burris, Gene Wood, Linwood Ramos, Bill Holly, Jr. in rear with Charlie Donaldson.
This class were all members from Seventh District. Thanks to Tommy Mattingly for helping get some of the names here and they are not in any order. Billy Thompson, Lenox Dean, Bert Dean, DeSalaes Hill, Ben Hewitt, Allie Raley, George Brown,Sam Brown, Francis Gibson, James Woodburn, Jim Raley, Fox Burch, George McWilliams, Joe Oliver. That was most of the names.
This class were all members from Seventh District. Thanks to Tommy Mattingly for helping get some of the names here and they are not in any order. Billy Thompson, Lenox Dean, Bert Dean, DeSalaes Hill, Ben Hewitt, Allie Raley, George Brown,Sam Brown, Francis Gibson, James Woodburn, Jim Raley, Fox Burch, George McWilliams, Joe Oliver. That was most of the names.
 
Charlie Donaldson along with Bob Bryus giving a pocket card to Gerard Britton.
Charlie Donaldson along with Bob Bryus giving a pocket card to Gerard Britton.
Back row Warren Wood and Porky Abell (Co 7) and others are from our department back row far right Jim O'Donnell, front row Richard McPherson, Gerard Britton, Clarence Parrish, Doug Medley and front Steve Schaffer.
Back row Warren Wood and Porky Abell (Co 7) and others are from our department back row far right Jim O'Donnell, front row Richard McPherson, Gerard Britton, Clarence Parrish, Doug Medley and front Steve Schaffer.
 
Past Chief Engineer Lou Hamrick with his wife in front of their house in flat tops.
Past Chief Engineer Lou Hamrick with his wife in front of their house in flat tops.
Stu Gillman and Les Hansen taking a pump class I think. Don't know the instructor. Any Help out there.
Stu Gillman and Les Hansen taking a pump class I think. Don't know the instructor. Any Help out there.
 
With Freddy Burris help going to throw out some names in this picture. Billy Huesman, Otis Wood, Ray Wood, Sam Maddox, Fred Burris, Allen Tucker, Lou Hamrick, George McWilliams, Bill Holly Jr., Gene Wood, Fox Burch, Allie Raley, Jim Raley.
With Freddy Burris help going to throw out some names in this picture. Billy Huesman, Otis Wood, Ray Wood, Sam Maddox, Fred Burris, Allen Tucker, Lou Hamrick, George McWilliams, Bill Holly Jr., Gene Wood, Fox Burch, Allie Raley, Jim Raley.
We even did floats back in the day. Probably county fair.
We even did floats back in the day. Probably county fair.
 
Some of our old ladies aux. putting the float together.
Some of our old ladies aux. putting the float together.
The late fire chief Al King accepting a trophy from a parade somewhere.
The late fire chief Al King accepting a trophy from a parade somewhere.
 
Don't know about this one either. Just cool car.
Don't know about this one either. Just cool car.
July 1957 building the additional bay on the old station 3.
July 1957 building the additional bay on the old station 3.
 
Old barracks we burned on Navy base for a drill..
Old barracks we burned on Navy base for a drill..
Another fire from Center Gardens.
Another fire from Center Gardens.
 
Al King sitting on the running board.
Al King sitting on the running board.
No Caption
 
Don't know what they were doing. Pumping out a well maybe.
Don't know what they were doing. Pumping out a well maybe.
Tanker 3 with Gillman getting ready to drive.
Tanker 3 with Gillman getting ready to drive.
 
Jim (Jogi) Baird behind the wheel of the tanker which he always drove to calls. You might remember him as the lawnmower man who always pushed his mower up and down Rt. 235. He was struck and killed by a state police car.
Jim (Jogi) Baird behind the wheel of the tanker which he always drove to calls. You might remember him as the lawnmower man who always pushed his mower up and down Rt. 235. He was struck and killed by a state police car.
Washing our then brush truck. Know them?
Washing our then brush truck. Know them?
 
Some of the names here are Sam Maddox ,Billy Norris, Donald Irvin, Allen Tucker ,Ray Wood ,Allison Johnson and I don't know what order with Charlie Donaldson. These guys are all from Hollywood VFD.
Some of the names here are Sam Maddox ,Billy Norris, Donald Irvin, Allen Tucker ,Ray Wood ,Allison Johnson and I don't know what order with Charlie Donaldson. These guys are all from Hollywood VFD.
Santa in the firehouse with kids.
Santa in the firehouse with kids.
 
Big crowd for a parade I'm thinking.
Big crowd for a parade I'm thinking.
Charlie Donaldson back when he was chief I think. Don't know the firefighter in doorway.
Charlie Donaldson back when he was chief I think. Don't know the firefighter in doorway.
 
I think the one guy is our Les Hansen with hand in pocket and not sure but think George Duke (Co 1) sitting on tail board.
I think the one guy is our Les Hansen with hand in pocket and not sure but think George Duke (Co 1) sitting on tail board.
Old house fire probably in Hollywood's area if you look at turn out coats.
Old house fire probably in Hollywood's area if you look at turn out coats.
 
Picture we think in front of Charlie Catrons welding building with some of our firefighters and old engine 31 the USA.
Picture we think in front of Charlie Catrons welding building with some of our firefighters and old engine 31 the USA.
Charlie Donaldson
Charlie Donaldson
 
No Caption
Yes we had a mascot back in the day before my time. Don't know who the guy is.
Yes we had a mascot back in the day before my time. Don't know who the guy is.
 
Some names at this dinner. Sam Vallandingham, Norman Pilkerton, Greg Adams in black turned around.
Some names at this dinner. Sam Vallandingham, Norman Pilkerton, Greg Adams in black turned around.
Some of our ladies working on the float. See how we used to hang our gear up.
Some of our ladies working on the float. See how we used to hang our gear up.
 
Louis Goldstein, Frank Coombs, Gene Wood and Fred Burris with his back to camera.
Louis Goldstein, Frank Coombs, Gene Wood and Fred Burris with his back to camera.
A very early fire prevention float. Notice the badge on the back. That was made by the members. Didn't have money to buy anything back then.
A very early fire prevention float. Notice the badge on the back. That was made by the members. Didn't have money to buy anything back then.
 
Kennedy Abell, Al King, Merl Russell.
Kennedy Abell, Al King, Merl Russell.
Charlie Donaldson,Henry Fowler, Paul Bailey, Bob Byrus, Frank Coombs, Judge Mattingly, Walter Dorsey, Jack Caldwell. These were the movers and shakers in St. Mary's County back in the day.
Charlie Donaldson,Henry Fowler, Paul Bailey, Bob Byrus, Frank Coombs, Judge Mattingly, Walter Dorsey, Jack Caldwell. These were the movers and shakers in St. Mary's County back in the day.
 
Al King accepting some kind of award from Robbie Robinson. Notice Slots in the background. This was the Sunset Manor back room.
Al King accepting some kind of award from Robbie Robinson. Notice Slots in the background. This was the Sunset Manor back room.
Yes that is Les Hansen on the left with chief Al King.
Yes that is Les Hansen on the left with chief Al King.
 
No this was not our first attempt of a sub-station.
No this was not our first attempt of a sub-station.
Left to right - Les Hansen, Bennie Howard, Clarence Parrish, Steve Bodnar.
Left to right - Les Hansen, Bennie Howard, Clarence Parrish, Steve Bodnar.
 
Charlie Donaldson and Roy Goddard (Co 6) at table during some kind of class.
Charlie Donaldson and Roy Goddard (Co 6) at table during some kind of class.
These are the fine ladies from the Leonardtown VFD (Co 1) Ann Abell, Lea Sterling, Mary Jane Scully, Thersa Sterling.
These are the fine ladies from the Leonardtown VFD (Co 1) Ann Abell, Lea Sterling, Mary Jane Scully, Thersa Sterling.
 
Could be a house over in Patuxent Park.
Could be a house over in Patuxent Park.
This was a barracks on the navy base we burned down for drill.
This was a barracks on the navy base we burned down for drill.
 
Another house fire. I bet that is John Leavy standing there with no helmet. He hated to wear one.
Another house fire. I bet that is John Leavy standing there with no helmet. He hated to wear one.
Donaldson on a fire. Notice no breathing apparatus.
Donaldson on a fire. Notice no breathing apparatus.
 
Not a good save.
Not a good save.
No Caption
 
Another shot of the burn.
Another shot of the burn.
More shots.
More shots.
 
Don't know if this was a house or brush fire. Hope it was no one's house.
Don't know if this was a house or brush fire. Hope it was no one's house.
Our favorite ladies from the north (Hollywood) marching in a parade somewhere back in the day.
Our favorite ladies from the north (Hollywood) marching in a parade somewhere back in the day.
 
Les Hansen (Captain back then) with George Fergusion in doorway.
Les Hansen (Captain back then) with George Fergusion in doorway.
This group standing out front of old station 3 back in the hay day. If I only knew their names. Do know second from left Fred Jones who was a chief. On far right Ben Poindexter (charter member) and Paul Bingman past chief.
This group standing out front of old station 3 back in the hay day. If I only knew their names. Do know second from left Fred Jones who was a chief. On far right Ben Poindexter (charter member) and Paul Bingman past chief.
 
Another center gardens working fire. Sure there are plenty of you firemen (old timers) that remember coming there.
Another center gardens working fire. Sure there are plenty of you firemen (old timers) that remember coming there.
Now this is a who's who of our early department sitting and standing on our old Engine 33. The names are on the next picture if you can read them.
Now this is a who's who of our early department sitting and standing on our old Engine 33. The names are on the next picture if you can read them.
 
No Caption