www.SVZVFD.org - South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department.

There was a need and a vision.

South Van Zandt VFD was started because there became a definite need of fire protection in south Van Zandt county. In early February or 1984, Tim Meredith and Allen Sides started talking with some of the men of the community about the need for a fire department in the area. Lloyd Mangum stated that if flyers were put up announcing a meeting, he would get some men together to support a fire department.

February 12, 1984 - The first meeting was held at J-L Corral Feed Store at HWY 19 and FM 1256 with around 50 present. About $2000 was collected that night and that set in motion the organization of the fire department, to be named at a later date.

February 27, 1984 - At J-L Feed Store, another meeting was held to elect officers and a board of directors. Tim Meredith, President, Odis Munns, Vice-President, Marjorie Christian, Secretary, and Allen Sides, Treasurer. Other board members included Lloyd Magnum, Richard Tantum, Glen Adams, and Charles Meyer. At this meeting the name was decided on. It was voted to buy a used one-ton 4WD truck from Joe Williams for $7500. Jack Daniel gave two 1000 gallon tanks to put on a tanker truck (when a truck for this purpose is obtained).

March 12, 1984 - It was voted to buy a 1976 Ford F600 to build a tanker truck. A one-ton 4x4 was purchased from Joe Williams for $6900. A rough draft of the constitution and by-laws was written by Bill Bass. James Lunceford will deed enough land to build a station. The fire department has a phone number now but there is no phone.

March 19, 1984 - At the meeting at Martin’s Mill Gym the constitution and by-laws were approved. Ouida Kopecky became the new secretary. We bought a utility bed from Malakoff Truck & body for $2,783.00. Fire Appliance Company of Texas in Wichita Falls built a fire pump and installed the slip-in unit. The cost of the slip-in unit was $11,300. The first one-ton brush truck cost about $19,000.

April 16, 1984 - At the Martin�s Mill Gym meeting, Clarence Lewis donated a colt to raffle off to raise funds. The treasury balance stood at $5,486. David Wade will cook his world famous chili for a fund raiser in May. In April The Eagle Ranch will host a Bar-B-Q supper for donations.

May, 1984 - Lloyd Magnum made motion to have next meeting at Tundra Baptist Church. This started a trend for the next few years to have monthly meetings in the different communities that the department will serve.

June 5, 1984 - The meeting was held at the Tundra Baptist church. The treasury stood at $8317.44. Fire phones were installed at J-L Feed Store and Tim Meredith�s house. A phone was later installed at Womble Grocery in Walton. Nelda Womble offered to serve as dispatcher. Nelda Womble and Shirley Sides were given a list of names to call when a fire was reported. The communication was by way of CB radios. Jess Stout donated a 40 channel CB to the department. It was noted in the minutes that Mrs. Lu Lemoine had collected an unusual amount of money. She and Mrs. Lavonna Blackwell, as well as others, had gone door to door and road by road asking for donations. The next meeting was called for in the Old Bethel community. A letter was sent to the VZC commissioners to ask for the funding and they responded with $250 per month.

July 1984 - In July at the meeting in Old Bethel a possible concert by Boxcar Willie was discussed. The next meeting was planned for Walton. Next couple of months the meeting were held at Zion Hill Assembly of God church and China Grove Baptist Church. There usually around 50 in attendance Van Zandt Sheriff�s Posse has volunteered to manage crowds at concert to be at Canton High School Gym.

October 1, 1984 - There has become a need to house trucks for the winter. Mr. James Lunceford donated $20,000 to build 50x50 on the lot he donated earlier. Motion was pay all Moines above $1000 toward note on fire truck.