The Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department auxiliary was organized March 3,1950. The two main topics at the first meeting were developing a Constitution and bylaws and deciding the amount for dues for the organization. After the auxiliary's first meeting in March 1950 and continuing through December 1962, all minutes and information pertaining to the auxiliary have been lost/misplaced. The first offices were president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, chaplain, and guard. Later an assistant treasurer was added. After a serious house fire wiped out the possessions of a family in the area, the auxiliary added a Disaster Committee to the other committees already established.
In 1964, the Nanjemoy auxiliary officially joined the Ladies Auxiliary of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen's Association ( LASMVFA ). Dues were $ 5.00 annually. The first dinner hosted for the LASMFA by Nanjemoy was held at the Thunderbird Restaurant in Newburg because Nanjemoy didn't yet have a firehouse.
In 1968 an interesting donation was made to the LASMFA Disaster Committee Fund. ( This was for $ 3.87-- the waist measurements of each member of our auxiliary--one penny per inch. ) Some of the various fund -raising
activities of our auxiliary have been: Rummage and Bake Sales, Holiday Napkin Sales, Basket of Cheer Raffles, selling fruitcakes, Record Hops, Community Dances, Bee-Line Fashion Parties, Tupperware Parties, Barbecue Dinners, Pancake Suppers and Breakfasts,etc.
Shortly after the auxiliary was established, it was decided to have a Gift of the Mouth raffle after each meeting as a small fund-raising activity. The cost of the item to be raffed would be $1.00. The price of the raffle was 10 cents each or three for 25 cents. The member who won would bring in next month's gift to be raffled.. ( The Gift
of the Month is still held after each of our meetings - the cost today is 50 cents. )
The Nanjemoy Fire Department Auxiliary continues today as it did when it was started in 1950- assisting the fire fighters and helping our community. |
