History

1966 Firefighters

One of the few Middle Tennessee volunteer fire deptments in mid 1900's, Culleoka Vol Fire Dept. began in 1953. Efforts to organize a fire deptment in Culleoka climaxed on February 15, 1952, when fire destroyed the antebellum home of Mrs. Loutie Thomas and her sister Miss Brownie Tomlinson. The house was located across from the Post Office. When the house caught fire in the kitchen, residents of Culleoka and surrounding areas came to aid. The fire spread slowyly, destroying one room at a time while neighbors quickly carried out furniture and other contents of the home. At the time, the only fire fighting equipment available were buckets of water which wasn't enough to stop the destruction. The sisters were so grateful for saving their home's contents, they donated a piece of property across the street from the home. The site is now known as Culleoka's East Station, and is located behind the Post Office. The fire fighting unit was established by 24 families who pleadged their support to secure the necessary fire fighting equipment.The plan was adopted on May 30,1952, which included that a minimum of 50 families pay $20.00 a year for two years, less if more entered the plan. Lewis Hyde, the local Agriculture teacher, was named finance chairman and Hershal Parrish was named co chairman of the project. Mr. Hyde and local members of FFA secured an old cattle truck and retrofitted a boiler from the school to make a 1000 gallon fire truck. The truck equiped with hose, 2 fire extinguishers, and other necessary equipment was kept in the building that was built on the donated property.