Magnolia Memories
From Celeste Graves book, “Magnolia Memories“
On December 15, 1952, the home of James W. Graves, Jr. burned to the ground. It is ironic that on this same date, Cedric Smith and Wiley P. Williams had gone to Humble, Texas to accept the gift of a used fire truck from C. H. Daniel, who at one time made his home in Magnolia. Bubba Smith, Cedric’s young son, went along for the ride. Mr. Daniel had suggested that the citizens of Magnolia organize a Volunteer Fire Department and offered to give them a 1939 International fire truck. This was the beginning of the fire department that now boasts four fire engine-pumpers, 3 water tankers, 4 grass-fighting (booster) trucks, and one rescue truck – a total of 12 vehicles; with plans to add two more fire trucks. The department is composed of four stations and forty to forty-five members. All of the original members are deceased with the exception of J. A. Purvis, H. E. Moore, and Cedric Smith. They still live in Magnolia.
The Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department started out in 1952 with twelve members. The organizational meeting was held at the home of Joe Hydrick. After that the meetings were always held at Williams Café until the fire station was built. The first fire chief was Murray Thomas. Mr. Thomas had retired from the Houston Fire Department just before moving to Magnolia. The first officers were: Wiley P. Williams, President; Joe Hydrick, Vice-President; J. A. Purvis, Secretary; Ed Chandler, Chaplain; H. C. Dorris, Harry Hanks, and R. N. Sullivan, trustees; Murray Thomas, Fire Chief; Gene Adams and Bannon Damuth Assistant Fire Chiefs; and Ray Austin, Pete Baker, and H. E. Moore, Captains. Within a month after the department organized, others joined – two of which were Roscoe Seyle and Cedric Smith.
The members and their wives worked very hard to raise money to fund the department. Dances were given in the old schoolhouse building in Stoneham. The Seyles and the Dorrises were especially dedicated and were always seen in the concession stands working. Other means of raising money included turkey dinners, barbecues, etc.
The Magnolia VFD has expanded considerably over the years and the area now covered is 250 square miles. A brand new engine with 1000 gallon capacity was recently acquired. Officers elected December 4, 1990 were: Don Purvis, President; Jay Storms, Vice-President, Debbie Sak, Secretary; Tim Sak, Treasurer, Malcolm Purvis, Tommy Gage, and Carmine Sanguedolce, trustees. Officers elected to stations were: Doug Springer, Fire Chief; Randall Stelwagon, Assistant Chief; Edmund Louks, Captain of Station 181; Steve Sanguedolce, Captain of Station 182; Curtis Hoffman, Captain of Station 183; Don Purvis, Captain of Station 184; and Chuck Ringler, Fire Marshall and State Certifying Coordinator.
This was a humble beginning for a fire department that now boasts nine engines, nine water tankers, nine grass trucks, two ladder truck, a rehab truck, seven command vehicles, nine medical response units, and six rescue boats.
Today the department is funded through the Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 10.
Special thanks to Celeste Graves and her book, Magnolia Memories,
on which our historical account is based.