The History Of The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department
1978 To 2003
“Our Past 25 Years”

By Clinton B. Duke, Sr.

With God’s help, we have continued to grow and prosper. Although the membership of this department has historically been referred to as “the boys”, we can no longer respond to that particular terminology. The department has expanded its horizons and has been blessed to have had many fine men and women in its ranks over the years. We continue to look forward to the future and unknown possibilities while we continue to keep in our minds the events and experiences of the past.

A significant event in the overall operation of St. Mary’s County fire services was the opening of the Governor Johnson Bridge over the Patuxent River to Calvert County on December 17, 1977. This affected fire response by a number of fire companies in both St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, including Company 13 NAS Patuxent River, MD. While our first due response area was not effected, our mutual aid running area was impacted. Because of this one change in the area of transportation, it wasn’t long before we were responding to the areas of lower Calvert County. Our response time to those areas was reduced from 75 minutes to approximately 15-20 minutes.

It was apparent in 1978 that we had much facing us in the next several years in order to provide the best support to our community. One of the issues that was on our minds was the fact that although we had built a new firehouse in 1965, we already were in need of more room. The firehouse just wasn’t big enough to house all of our equipment.

We also had to make other changes to our operations. We had to keep up with the changing times and increase our training in firefighting. We had to maintain our success in promoting Fire Prevention and had to strive for ways to improve our efforts. In addition to this, to facilitate our growing operational commitments, we had to improve our Carnival and Carnival Grounds to ensure continued means of support for our escalating expenses. The procurement of additional rides and the hire of other carnival attractions were utilized to augment the original Merry-Go-Round, Ferris Wheel and Octopus rides for the enjoyment of our surrounding community.

On December 11, 1978, the department placed into service the long awaited Seagrave pumper, designated Engine 11. In addition to being one of the most modern pieces of fire equipment, it established a new tradition of dedicating our new apparatus in memory or honor of specific individuals who gave so much to our organization. On January 6, 1979 this truck was dedicated to past Fire Chief J. Moakley Mattingly, Jr.

At our meeting on October 13, 1980, President J. Lloyd Goddard stated that the mortgage on the firehouse was paid off. He also made it known that a “Burning of the Mortgage” was held on September 22, 1980.

In 1981, our Installation Banquet was held on January 3 and the Ladies Auxiliary, in the truest spirit of support to the Department, very generously donated $8,000.00 towards to the purchase of equipment. It was also during this year that one of the highest honors for a fireman in the State of Maryland was bestowed upon one of our members. On June 15th Past President and Past Chief Roland B. Duke, Sr., was “posthumously” inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame.

With the growth of the county and the changing economy, the design of several new residential and business structures took on another dimension. The height of buildings, for the most part, had been single and two story. Newer buildings were being constructed that were three and four stories tall. Seeing the trend and anticipating future requirements, the Department, on March 22, 1982, voted to buy its first Ladder Truck.

A committee was appointed to look into the requirement. After much research, it was determined that a 100 foot aerial ladder truck was the type of apparatus that would best satisfy our need to support the community. On August 4, 1982, it was finally decided by the Department to buy the new truck from Seagrave for $166,265.

In 1983, at our annual banquet on January 8th, the Ladies Auxiliary, continuing their outstanding support of the Department, gave us a check for $20,000.00 that was earmarked for helping to pay the cost of Truck 1. The truck was received several months later and on May 15th it was dedicated to our Charter Members. It should be noted that the Ladies Auxiliary made all of the payments on the Truck 1 loan after our down payment.

Our best supporting organization reached its own milestone in 1984. It was during that year, in January, that we were proud to help our Ladies Auxiliary celebrate its 50th anniversary. In addition to this event, at the 1984 Maryland State Firemen’s Convention, the Department was awarded the prestigious Zembower Fire Service Training Award for the 1983 training year. This award is presented to the department with the highest average number of formal training hours per active member.

In 1986, another member of the Department received special recognition for his contributions to the Fire Service. On June 17th Past President and Past Chief William G. Holley was inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame. It was also during this year that Past Chief Holley received the Marbery F. Gates Service Award which recognizes 50 years of continuous and faithful service to organizations within the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.

Recognizing the need to upgrade our apparatus and remain current with equipment that could best meet our needs, it was decided to procure another first line pumper. After looking at what the market had to offer, it was decided to contract for another Seagrave fire engine. In May of 1987, the Department took receipt of Engine 12 and placed it in service dedicating it to our Ladies Auxiliary.

While our equipment remained first on our list of priorities, we considered that we were in fairly good shape with our current inventory of fire-fighting apparatus. However, what was needed was a new utility truck that would continue to support and supplement both the operational and administrative requirements of the Department. As a result of this need, a new utility truck, purchased from Bell Motor Company, was put into service on February 22, 1989.

Also under consideration in February of 1989, was the need to replace the International 1300C Brush Truck. It was during the business meeting of this month that the Department voted to buy a vehicle. The vehicle was purchased from Ritter Chevrolet and the equipment, tank and pump were subsequently installed through a contract with the Salisbury Fire Equipment Company.

On August 14, 1989, the Department passed a resolution and sent a copy to the Leonardtown Commissioners with a recommendation to adopt the Code 89 Standard for Building Construction.

October 19, 1989, was a sad day for our Department. It was on this day that we mourned the death of one of our Lifetime members, Past President and Past Chief J. Lloyd Goddard. But, as our Department had learned through the years, we must press on and that’s what Lloyd would have wanted.

1990 brought yet another Maryland State Firemen’s Association award to a member of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department. Thomas A. Mattingly, Jr., was the recipient of the Silver Spring Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the individual who has done the most in the area of fire prevention for his/her community.

Once again, the Ladies Auxiliary surprised us when, on August 13, 1990, they requested and were granted permission to attend a portion of our monthly business meeting. Much to our surprise, they presented us with a check for $7,463.31 that was to be utilized toward the existing “Note” on Truck 1. Due to this event and the other contributions of the Ladies Auxiliary towards the balance on the vehicle loan, Truck 1 was paid off. A “Note Burning” was subsequently held on October 1, 1990.

Another significant change in the operation of St. Mary’s County Fire Services was yet to occur during this time period. Due to ever increasing expense of operating a fire department, it was found necessary to request a Fire Tax. While the citizens of the county had been recently paying a fire tax, its distribution to the Fire Departments hadn’t occurred. It was on October 8, 1990, that we received our first Fire Tax check. This was a drastic change from any type of financial support that we had ever received in the past.

Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., had been elected as President of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association at the annual convention in 1990 and served in that position until 1991. On June 18th of 1991, during the convention and at the end of his term as MSFA President, Tommy, who was also a Lifetime Member, Past President and Past Chief of our Department, was inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame.

On December 13, 1991, Engine 14, was place into service. In keeping with our tradition of dedicating our apparatus to key members, Engine 14 was dedicated to Past President and Past Chief William G. Holley on April 26, 1992.

In 1993 a motion was made to replace Squad 1 to include a better variety of equipment which would benefit the community in which we serve. The vehicle was targeted for delivery in 1995. In actuality, it was voted to purchase the vehicle as a portion of the budget for that year.

It was finally time to address something that had been on our minds for a long time. Discussion was held on the possible renovation and expansion of the firehouse on July 11, 1994. Many plans were made and after much work, President Kalnasy was empowered to get 2 bids for appraisal of renovating and enlarging the firehouse. One result of this effort was that on February 13, 1995, Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., presented a committee report on the building expansion. A lot of dialogue was exchanged on the topics of Elevator Installation, Air Conditioning, Bunk Room, Handicap Access, Sprinklers, Restrooms, Rear Stairwell, and a host of minor items. As written in our minutes, on May 8, 1995, “building expansion plans were tabled for 30 days (Note: and given much thought!). The end result was that on June12, 1995, it was voted “that we move forward with expansion plans of the firehouse.”

While all of this was going on, the membership voted to purchase the new Rescue Truck (Squad 1) in July of 1995. The contract, signed in August of that year with an anticipated delivery date in May of 1996, was awarded to Woodward Associates.

On September 12, 1995, President Kalnasy reported, that he, Roger Mattingly and John Gough had a meeting to plan the method of payment for the firehouse expansion. It was decided by the membership to set up a special account to pay bills during the expansion. It was also voted to use a Joint Account with the Ladies Auxiliary to help pay for the project. In order to support the renovation effort, it was announced by the Rental Committee chairman, Greg Bauer, that we should plan not to rent the hall after January 1, 1996.

At the meeting on October 19, 1995, much more discussion was held on the building expansion, such as a drive-thru bay. And at this meeting, it was voted not to sign a contract until the cost and plans were established, reviewed, and approved by the department membership.

On November 13, 1995, Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., chairman of the Building Expansion Committee, reported that a working contract had been signed by the Department Officers with Wayne M. Davis, General Contractor. The total cost was not firm at this point but was estimated be somewhere around $700,000.00. Then, on January 24, 1996, it was voted on and passed to secure a loan for $600,000.00 for the building expansion. The Building Expansion Committee was empowered to spend up to $750,000.00 plus the cost of a new, more powerful generator to handle the expected load increase.

In April 1996, the cornerstone of the firehouse was relocated due to the elevator installation. A copper box was made and donated by Robert Carroll Dyson of Great Mills, Md. A history update was written by Clinton B. Duke, Sr., and added to the contents of the cornerstone. The cornerstone was then installed by Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., chairman of the Building Expansion Committee.

At the state convention in 1998, Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., received yet another award at the state level. He was awarded the Gladhill-Thompson Trophy. This trophy is awarded to honor an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the future welfare of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.

In August 1998, a potential change to one of our historical means of financially supporting our operations surfaced. A motion was made to stop having our annual carnival. This had been an ongoing topic of discussion. It had been considered by some to be a problem for a number of years due to the time required for set-up and tear-down, the work involved and, sometimes, the lack of attendance by our own personnel to run the carnival. However, the motion was not accepted by the membership.

As we were looking at potential changes of this nature, it was decided in 1998 that we needed to once again look at replacement of the Utility Vehicle. It was decided that we would procure a 2000 Chevrolet C25 Pickup with Crew Cab.

Problems, perceived or real, continued to surface through the years concerning the carnival. Again, in October 2000, an attempt was made to discontinue the annual carnival and to request an increase in the fire tax. It was noted that the carnival required a lot of extra time and hard work of our men and ladies. This was voted on twice, but again, the motion failed. It was also during this period, amidst discussions of sources of financial support, that a new truck committee was appointed.

In November 2000, Roger Mattingly announced it was time to obtain a Christmas tree for the town’s park. While it has not been reported in any history of the Department to date, this is something that had been done for many years – obtaining, erecting, and decorating a tree. An event closely associated with this effort is Leonardtown’s annual “Christmas Tree Lighting”. While this is a joint endeavor with the town of Leonardtown, which has become a premier county event, our Department has a primary role in coordinating with all of the County’s fire departments to provide support.

2001 was a year that will not be forgotten by this or any generation to come. On September 11 life in our community, in the United States and the rest of the world, changed forever. With the tragedies of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the plane crash in the Pennsylvania field, and the related “Anthrax” attacks, we had to look at everyday events with a languishing cynicism and newfound amount of caution. While two of our members were directly involved in the aftermath of the attack on the Pentagon, as a Department, we were called on by our local community to perform many unexpected tasks and respond to calls for suspected terror-related hazardous materials. We continue to operate to this day with a heightened sense of security.

While work continued on the new truck, it was noted in February 2002 that the committee recommended some changes and modifications to our proposed specifications. After several rounds of discussions on these and other amendments to the specs, all changes were voted on by the membership and accepted. The result was that in March of 2002 President George Kalnasy signed the contract for a new Seagrave pumper that was to be designated Engine 10. The contracted price was $414,206.00. Although necessary to perform today’s fire-fighting functions, if you look back over the course of our history, this is a tremendous increase from the price of our original pieces of equipment.

On June 17, 2002, Lifetime Member, Past President and Past Chief (Co. 13) Clinton B. Duke, Sr., was bestowed the highest honor of firefighters in the State of Maryland. He was inducted in the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame and joined a select few from our Department with the same distinction.

Now for the present day and into the future. What is ahead of us? What will we have to do? What technological advances in fire protection equipment are we going to witness and need? These and many other questions face us and our future members as we continue to strive to provide optimal support to our community at the lowest cost. We are volunteers, and just like those before us, we provide a service to our community because it is our way of giving to our fellow citizens.

We also know, as in the past, that we want to provide the best fire prevention and protection for our town, Leonardtown, and our surrounding communities.

So, ladies and gentlemen, on into our next 25 years.