President: Peggy Wilkins
Vice President: Suzanne Talley
Secretary: Janet Schuhart
Asst. Secretary: Ginger Herold
Treasurer: Valerie Personi
Asst. Treasurer: Alice Brock
Board of Directors: Ellen Finch
Kathy Walsh
Carol Walton
The History of the Elsmere Fire Company No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary
In March of 1921 after a widespread grass and brush fire threatened homes in the
Town of Elsmere, residents began organizing their own fire company. At the same
time, it was determined that the men of the fire company would benefit greatly from
assistance. Mrs Frank Hoffecker, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Volunteers
Relief Association of Wilmington, was asked to help organize such a group for the
new fire company.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fairview Fire Company, soon after renamed the Elsmere
Fire Company, held its first meeting in the home of Mrs. Nan Jefferis on New Road.
According to records available today, those ladies attending that meeting were Mrs.
Bassel, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Cloud, Mrs. Hoffecker, Mrs. Jefferis, Mrs.
Nicholas, Mrs. Rambo, Mrs. Touchton and Mrs. Wilkie. From among them, Mrs.
Hoffecker was elected the first Ladies Auxiliary President. In 1931 the Elsmere
Ladies Auxiliary joined the New Castle County Auxiliary Association. Any more
complete records of the early history of the Ladies Auxiliary are believed to have been
lost in the fire that occurred in 1946.
Once organized, the Auxiliary set out about the business of assisting the firemen, by
providing food and drinks after serious fires. Following the devastating fire in 1946,
the Ladies Auxiliary did everything it could to help the men get the company back on
its feet. At the dedication of the “new” firehouse in 1951, Ladies Auxiliary President
Esther Deakyne presented Fire Company President Frank Dobbs with a check in the
amount of $1,000, the result of countless hours of hard work. Included in the new
building were a small social hall and kitchen facilities on the second floor.
As the community and the fire company grew, construction of a large social hall and
kitchen was undertaken. By 1964, the Paul B. Rambo Memorial Hall was dedicated.
From the $1,000 given at the 1951 building dedication, to statewide recognition as
the top money-making fire company auxiliary in 1974, the Ladies of Elsmere always
seemed to come through BIG when it counted. One of the most notable contributions
was that of Engine 165, a 1975 Hahn equipped with a 1,000 gallon tank and chrome-
plated deck gun. This apparatus, delivered the first week of January, 1975, was also
the first in Elsmere’s history to be equipped with an automatic transmission.
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary have been active in the business of the fire service
over the years as well. From helping to crew the ambulance, to participating in efforts
to establish a statewide pension program for volunteer fire company personnel, to
becoming involved in Critical Incident Stress Management, Elsmere’s ladies have
contributed to the growth and betterment of Delaware’s volunteer fire service.
Vice President: Suzanne Talley
Secretary: Janet Schuhart
Asst. Secretary: Ginger Herold
Treasurer: Valerie Personi
Asst. Treasurer: Alice Brock
Board of Directors: Ellen Finch
Kathy Walsh
Carol Walton
The History of the Elsmere Fire Company No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary
In March of 1921 after a widespread grass and brush fire threatened homes in the
Town of Elsmere, residents began organizing their own fire company. At the same
time, it was determined that the men of the fire company would benefit greatly from
assistance. Mrs Frank Hoffecker, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Volunteers
Relief Association of Wilmington, was asked to help organize such a group for the
new fire company.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fairview Fire Company, soon after renamed the Elsmere
Fire Company, held its first meeting in the home of Mrs. Nan Jefferis on New Road.
According to records available today, those ladies attending that meeting were Mrs.
Bassel, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Cloud, Mrs. Hoffecker, Mrs. Jefferis, Mrs.
Nicholas, Mrs. Rambo, Mrs. Touchton and Mrs. Wilkie. From among them, Mrs.
Hoffecker was elected the first Ladies Auxiliary President. In 1931 the Elsmere
Ladies Auxiliary joined the New Castle County Auxiliary Association. Any more
complete records of the early history of the Ladies Auxiliary are believed to have been
lost in the fire that occurred in 1946.
Once organized, the Auxiliary set out about the business of assisting the firemen, by
providing food and drinks after serious fires. Following the devastating fire in 1946,
the Ladies Auxiliary did everything it could to help the men get the company back on
its feet. At the dedication of the “new” firehouse in 1951, Ladies Auxiliary President
Esther Deakyne presented Fire Company President Frank Dobbs with a check in the
amount of $1,000, the result of countless hours of hard work. Included in the new
building were a small social hall and kitchen facilities on the second floor.
As the community and the fire company grew, construction of a large social hall and
kitchen was undertaken. By 1964, the Paul B. Rambo Memorial Hall was dedicated.
From the $1,000 given at the 1951 building dedication, to statewide recognition as
the top money-making fire company auxiliary in 1974, the Ladies of Elsmere always
seemed to come through BIG when it counted. One of the most notable contributions
was that of Engine 165, a 1975 Hahn equipped with a 1,000 gallon tank and chrome-
plated deck gun. This apparatus, delivered the first week of January, 1975, was also
the first in Elsmere’s history to be equipped with an automatic transmission.
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary have been active in the business of the fire service
over the years as well. From helping to crew the ambulance, to participating in efforts
to establish a statewide pension program for volunteer fire company personnel, to
becoming involved in Critical Incident Stress Management, Elsmere’s ladies have
contributed to the growth and betterment of Delaware’s volunteer fire service.
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