Chapter Fourteen - Miscellaneous Activities
Although it is always much more pleasant to remember only the successful ventures, it would be unfair to the story of the Sebring Firemen to try to create the impression that there were no mistakes, no failures or that no projects were attempted unless they were preordained to be successful. It has been said that only those who do nothing ever can be counted as never having made a mistake or had a failure and that errors can be numbered in direct ratio to the activities of the person or organization.
This adage is probably proven by the activities of the Sebring Firemen. Several abortive activities will long be remembered by the older members as, for instance, the time in 1935 when additional money was badly needed to apply to projects on hand, it was decided to raffle off an automobile to raise the funds. Money was not too plentiful that year and on the day of the drawing, the income from ticket sales was far short of the cost of the car. The deficit had to be made up from the treasury.
Months of after-hours and Saturday work were spent on beautifying the approach road to Highlands Hammock which was newly created in the early 1930’s. All the members gave generously of their time and labor to this project which was eventually scuttled by thieves who stole the palms and other ornamentals the Firemen had planted and carefully tended and by roaming cattle that grazed on what were not stolen.
On numerous occasions, efforts were made to arouse interest in a greater awareness of the lake and a more wide-spread use of it by the citizenry. Several Department-sponsored water carnivals and races failed to generate enough enthusiasm to encourage continued expenditures of efforts and money in this direction.
For years before the second World War, the only gymnasium and public auditorium available in Highlands County, were the school assembly halls and an open air building in Tuscawilla Park which served as a basketball court, a tent-city club house, church, court room and numerous other purposes. It was far too small for most needs and, in the winter, could not possibly be heated.
For many years, the maintenance of this building was a major project of the Firemen and a very expensive objective as the weather beat in the un-walled building and rotted the parts of the floors the termites did not attack. An ambition took shape in the Department to build a combination auditorium and gymnasium at Firemen’s Field and, in 1936, a definite plan was drawn up by an architect (Wilbur Cornell) and several meetings of representatives of all civic clubs of town, were held. These meetings brought out the fact that such a structure was not only sorely needed but would have the support of all organizations in the area.
The only deterrent was the fact that the proposed building would cost a great deal of money which was in short supply but the Firemen planned and saved for the purpose and immediately at the close of World War II, launched a campaign that was designed to raise $80,000.00 to start the principal part of the building program. The response was startling even to the committee headed by Payne Sebring and Floyd Schumacher.
Added to the funds that the Firemen had provided, the Lions Club gave their check for $500.00; three individuals each gave $1,000.00; one gave $1,500.00 and others swelled the cash-in-hand to $10,000.00 with pledges for additional money in an equal amount.
The big blow fell when the school board announced plans to build recreation buildings in Lake Placid, Avon Park and Sebring, which would fill some of the needs for which the Firemen’s building was designed. As one basket ball floor was ample for Sebring and as it was felt that the new high school gymnasium would be satisfactory for an auditorium for conventions, etc. The greatest needs for the proposed new building were met even though the new school building did not provide for boy and girl scout headquarters, a decent community dance and recreation floor and numerous other civic advantages. So, the project was dropped and the money returned to the donors.
There are numerous successful projects in which the Firemen may take justifiable pride, among which are the following;-
Every member joined The Tropical Parks Association which initiated the movement which ultimately resulted in the establishing of Highlands Hammock State Park. On the occasion of the dedicatory ceremonies, they all worked on the arrangements for traffic control, seating, ushering, public address system and other functions which made that event so successful.
They purchased the land and established a permanent athletic field (known as Firemen’s Field) which has been a credit to the community, at no cost to taxpayers. It has provided the schools and the youth of the area a definite assurance of continued use of a high quality athletic field. In this way, it is possible that they have contributed a great deal to the low incidence or delinquency among the youth, of which this community can boast.
In the early 1930’s, they built a radio broadcasting station (for which they could not get a license) which showed great promise of success. They entered floats in many parades which were popular in the earlier history of the town, and co—operated in the presentation of "Founder's Day" and "Nan-Ces-O-Wee Day".
To generate and hold interest of members, a weekly bulletin was published in which was listed a calendar of events, items of personal interest and news of the Department. This reached its peak of service during the war when it was issued bi-weekly and sent to all men in the armed forces.
At first, it was either mimeographed or multigraphed but the war—time copies were printed in a very attractive manner and contained a great deal more news of the city in general as well as information about the men in service. After the war, publication was limited to an annual edition which is distributed at the annual meeting.
A drum and bugle corps was organized in the Department in 1928 and the participants became very proficient on their instruments. Roscoe Yeager instructor of the drum corps and Orvel Chapman was the strutting drum major. Brilliant red coats with brass buttons, white trousers and firemen’s caps made up the uniforms and the aggregation made an impressive showing at firemen’s conventions and in local parades. When the corps was disbanded, the drums were given to the school band and the red coats continued to serve a useful purpose in the annual minstrel shows.
The bus which was originally bought to transport the basketball and baseball teams, also was useful throughout the year as a conveyance for the members to conventions, conferences, fire college and numerous other events. It was always much more fun going places in the bus than in separate cars and more economical, too.
The one activity that most of the present residents of Sebring will recognize was the assistance given the first sports car races at the Sebring Air Terminal. Since this project is so recent that it is still clear in the recollection of most people, there is little reason to dwell on the role played in the promotion of the project that has been almost universally agreed as a great boon to the community.
Through the medium of the Associated Fire Departments of South Florida and the Florida State Firemen’s Association, the Sebring Department has been able to help other fire departments improve their conditions by aiding in the establishment of the Fire College and helping in the organization of their associations.