WPBFD History

elected the first President. Other officers were Mrs. J. I. Cook, Vice President; Mrs. W. M. Lambert, Secretary; Mrs. J. H. Witherspoon, Treasurer; and Mrs. C. L. Smith, Chaplain. Charter members included Mrs. C. W. Buice, Mrs. J. C. Cook, Mrs. P. G. Grice, Mrs. B. W. Howze, Mrs. C. R. Hull, Mrs. J. R. Milkins, Mrs. M. J. Sachs, Mrs. A. P. Sadler, Mrs. O. R. Schwall, Mrs. M. W. Schwall, Mrs. J. M. Sloan, Mrs. J. M. Sloan, Jr., Mrs. G. T. Tessier, and Mrs. J. L. West. Primary objectives of the new organization were to create a closer relationship between the firemen and their families and to work with the fire department in social and welfare functions. Plans were made to hold a rum- mage sale to raise funds for the purchase of lounge furni- ture for the new Central Fire Station. The first social event was a picnic held at Bethesda Park in July. Promotions were announced on May 8, 1948. Cap- tain J. H. Witherspoon was promoted to the newly created position of second assistant chief at a monthly salary of $275. The new position was referred to as the "walking assistant chief" by firemen. Assistant Chief Larrabee was supposed to share his car with Witherspoon, but Larrabee would often leave the station before Witherspoon reported for duty to keep him from having the vehicle. Firemen were given three paid holidays per year in addition to

service under the new charter would abrogate his pension rights. City Manager Keith Chinn assured the worried chief that he would not lose his pension, even if the changes were enacted. He told Sadler that the city would accept his resignation and if necessary, seek a court declaratory judgment to clarify the unusual legal situation. These measures would protect his pension benefits if he agreed to stay at his post. The aging chief agreed to stay under those conditions. 1948 The Civil Service Board instituted a new merit sys- tem that went into effect on January 1, 1948. The old plan, set-up in 1939, had never proved completely satis- factory. Under the new system, proposed by Elmer C. Morse, all city employees would be rated twice each year. Any employee receiving three consecutive ratings lower than "satisfactory" could be dismissed for cause. The West Palm Beach Firemen's Auxiliary was formed on Saturday, May 1, 1948. The first meeting was held at the home of Chief and Mrs. Alfred P. Sadler. Dis- cussions included objectives, responsibilities, and election of officers for the organization. Mrs. F. T. Miller was

The new Central Fire Station shortly after opening in 1948. Firemen moved into it before the interior was completed and it remained unfinished for the next 32 years until it was torn down. None of the firemen missed the old station which they called “Central F”. You can probably guess what the F stood for and it wasn’t Fire.

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