Foreword
The early history of the Sebring Firemen is a saga of service, not only to Sebring and Highlands County but to the entire State of Florida. From the beginning of the present organization in 1925, it was an association of leaders, none of whom were expecting or even wanting any praise or advantage for themselves.
On file in the archives of the Fire Department, are dozens of letters similar to the one from Lake Hamilton Chief R. E. Haskins to Chief E. C. Henshaw of New Symrna - "How well we remember the help that the Sebring boys gave us in organizing and developing our Department." And to the one by H. N. Pye, Chief Engineer of the Southeastern Underwriters Association, "... I have had an opportunity to talk to our engineers and needless to say, all reports are good and I hear nothing but praise for the splendid work accomplished."
At the same time, the Department was building an enviable reputation at home for their efficient service in all types of endeavor from that acknowledged by Mr. Ford Heacock to that noted by Mrs. Rex Beach. Mr. Heacock wrote, "I take this means of thanking you for the prompt action taken last evening when Ford Jr. was apparently lost."
When writing about a fire which the newspapers headlined "MANY LEFT HOMELESS BY FIRE." Mrs. Beach said, "Mr. Beach told me of the wonderful work you did at the fire in the quarters last night and I wish to show, even in a small degree, how grateful I am to know that your department can be relied upon."
For the past thirty years, every new member has been given the charge and obligation that was adopted by the founding fathers of the Firemen:
THE OBLIGATION. I solemnly promise and declare that I will never bring reproach upon the organization, my country, my state or my city, by any act of dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert a suffering comrade.
I will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the City, both alone and with many; I will revere and obey the City’s laws, and do my best to incite a like respect and reverence in those about me who are prone to annul or set them at naught, without legal authority; I will strive unceasingly to quicken the public’s sense of civic duty. Thus, in all things will I transmit this City, not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to me.
THE CHARGE. Ever work unselfishly for the advancement of the community in which you live. It is unfortunate that we are so often strongly under the impression that to do a piece of work and not get credit for it, is little less than a calamity.
This habit of making the work secondary and the recognition primary is unfair to the work. It encourages a peculiar kind of ambition which is neither lovely or productive.
By doing the thing for which you may receive no credit, you are building certain qualities which cannot be hidden.
Certainly, there have been dozens of members of the Sebring Firemen who have proven that these are not merely beautiful, meaningless words but, by their service to the community, have converted them into living doctrines controlling their lives.
In recording the story of the Sebring Firemen, it is hoped that some who read it will remember and try to emulate the heroic works of Naylor, Gallaher, Chapman, the Jones brothers, the Lightisers, the Schumacher brothers, Payne Sebring, Gearing, Greene and the many others who worked unselfishly for the community and who have passed it on much better than it was transmitted to them. They surely had the qualities that could not be hidden but which will remain as monuments to their memories as long as there is a Sebring.
Some limitations must, of necessity, be observed in these chronicles else they would never be concluded as history continues to be made every day, especially in as active an organization as the Sebring Firemen. Therefore, special attention will be given to those events that were a part of the story before the late war.
Many of the men who were members at that time have either moved from Sebring or have departed this life. It may be of interest to note that, of the 120 men who were members after 1925 and before 1940, there have been 48 who have moved away from Sebring, some of whom are probably no longer living. Another 31 are known to have died. Thirty-two still live in Sebring but for one reason or another, their names have been dropped from the rolls while another 19 are still carried as members although there are hardly more than half a dozen of these who could be classed as active members.
With these figures in mind, it becomes evident that some effort should be put forth to reduce to the printed page, some of the facts and legends of that era while they are still available as the time is drawing near when the 41 who still remain in Sebring, join the 79 who have left.
On the other hand, there are many who have been initiated since the war and who are well qualified to set down the history of that period. Many, many commendable activities have been carried on during that period, which are not narrated here, principally for that reason. Therefore, it is not suggested that this story should be considered as finished with the materials between these covers.
P. G. Gearing has promised to write the story of baseball in Sebring’s early years and it is certain that Lonnie Curl can add to that as he managed several pennant winning teams in the 1950’s.
Ford Heacock and Frank Bryant should feel an inspiration to commit to writing the history of automobile racing at the Air Terminal and there is a great story in the part played by the Firemen in the County Fair - a story that is barely touched upon herein but which could be more elaborately told by Howard Livingston, Miles Baker, Ray Graddy, et. al. , who have been so instrumental in making the Fair a success.
Nor is the story of the Sebring Fire Department complete until someone writes the account of the recently formed Auxiliary. These ladies have been doing some rather wonderful civic work.
Above all, it should be pointed out that this is not a promotional brochure for either the Sebring Fire Department or any individuals. It is not intended to be a model of composition or rhetoric nor a masterpiece of typographical art. It is hoped that there may some parts of the story that will interest you.