The History of the
Ebony Volunteer Fire Department

The Ebony Volunteer Fire Department began on the second Wednesday in January of 1959. The organizational meeting was held in the lunch room of the Old Ebony School. Sheriff William E. Hill was present to assist in the organizational proce­dures along with Jack Farr and Donald Reagel. The organization was established as the "Ebony Civil Defense Fire Department." Twenty-four community members were present forming the charter members of the department. They were:
 

From this group, Bill Moseley was elected President and Fire Chief. Bill Jones was elected Vice-President and Lonnie Baird was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

In March of 1959 Bill Moseley donated a 1948 Chevrolet truck and E.H. Harris Oil Company donated on old oil tank to store water. Construction on the building to house the fire department began in April of 1959 and was finished approxi­mately one year later. The original building was constructed to house two trucks with a storage room on the back. This room was soon converted to living quarters for Cook King, who served as caretaker for the department for many years. Cook served as the master chef for the many stews that the department cooked as fund­raising efforts. He also maintained the truck and the grounds.

The second truck maintained by the department was a 1946 Ford fire truck donated by the Civil Defense Department. These two trucks served until 1968 when a new Chevrolet chassis was purchased for approximately $3,000.

The name of the department was changed in 1964 to the "Ebony Volunteer Fire Department" and a constitution and bylaws were adopted. The department was then registered with the State Corporation Commission.

Two additional building projects have increased the original firehouse space to include room for four vehicles, a kitchen, a meeting room, and restrooms. The firehouse was used as a community center for large and small group functions.  It is also was used as a disaster center in times of local emergencies.

The service fleet has expanded greatly over the past twenty years and now includes six vehicles: two fire engines, two tankers, one pickup truck equipped to fight forest fires, and one truck used for extrication in vehicle accidents..

The following persons have served as Chief of the fire department:

The department, in an effort to meet the needs of an expanding community, recently built a new firehouse which includes room for six vehicles, a kitchen, storeroom, restrooms and ample space for meetings and community activities. Being equipped with an automatic start AC generator it also services as a disaster center in emergency situations.  The old building will remain as a resource for the department and the community.

The  Ladies Auxiliary was formed in April of 1993.  They work diligently during department  fundraisers as well as their own.  They have made significant contributions that have aided in the success and growth of the department.  They work to support the department in many ways.

The Ebony Volunteer Fire Department serves a growing constituency, led by the development of Lake Gaston as a major residential and recreational attrac­tion. The department is working to meet the ever-growing challenges of the future by planning for expansion of equipment, facilities, training programs, and services for Brunswick County, Virginia and Lake Gaston (VA and NC) areas.

The Ebony Volunteer Fire Department appreciates all the support and coopera­tion they have been given in the past and look forward to all future support and assistance in their various undertakings.