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VANHOYS
PLUt:tBING

UC- ATING

Vanhoy Plumbing and Heating Company owned and operated
by H. Eugene Vanhoy. Located at 302 Bodenhamer Street.

Kernersville Volunteer Fire Department, organized 1923. Ned Stuart,
Fire Chief, Wade Parrish, Assistant. Jesse Bowers, Bern Stafford, Wilson
Ballard, D. Phipps, Herb Staffoi-d, Warner Jesse, Arthur Ballard, Johnny
Nelson, Clyde Lewis, Sam F. Vance, Sr., Vern Harrison, June Woollen,
Ned Stuart, Geoi-ge Perry, Charlie Dillon, Bryant Ballard, Wade Parrish,
Driver.

Tri-City Pharmacy
has been in business
for about 15 years but
FIRES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT was sold to Homer
and Claudine Pulliam
August 1, 1970. We
have made many new
Through the years terrible and costly fires struck the town friends in our short
stav in Kernersville
of Kernersville many times. Everyone in town went to the fires, and we invite you to
but there was no fire fighting equipment and only volunteers to come in and get ac-
quainted.
form an ineffective bucket brigade till the wells went dry. Over
and over helpless factory and home owners watched all they had
go up in flames although the original fire had been small and
could have been contained quickly with enough water. Notable
fires over the years were: the J. W. Meredith home fire around
1905, the public school house on West Mountain Street in 1906,
the Woolen Mill in 1909, Kerner Brothers Factory (formerly
Beard & Roberts Factory) in 1910, Mr. Israel Kerner's home and
store in 1912, the L. F. Davis home (also used ~s a hotel) in
1918, the J. R. Stuart Hardware Store (in the Davis building) in
The Men's Shop, on
1919 and on the same night the store building on the adjacent the corner of North
Main Street and
corner of North Main and Armfield Street burned also, the Arch Church Lane, was
Stockton barn fire when Mr. Stockton's little daughter, Elizabeth established in 194 7
and is the oldest men's
burned to death. shop in Kernersville.
It is owned by Mr.
At one period the town did purchase some hand fire equip- David C. Brown who
ment which was kept in a small building where Dr. ·walker's has been with the
store since its begin-
office now stands. Unfortunately, this equipment did not serve ning.
for very long as it was accidently ignited and burned up (ask
any of the old timers for details). As a result of these and other
disastrous fires and at the urging of concerned citizens, Ned R.
Stuart organized the Kernersville Volunteer Fire Department in
November, 1923 with 10 charter members. The town purchased
the first fire truck, a 1923 La France, for $6,500. The truck was
housed in Ned Stuart's garage until the white frame building on
East Mountain Street was completed in 1928.
Meetings of the Volunteer Fire Department were held month-
ly. These included training new firemen and practicing with the
truck around town. The fire siren was located atop the town
water tank. Upkeep of the truck was delegated to Ned Stuart,
Fire Chief and Wade Parrish, Assistant Fire Chief and driver.
The firemen bought their own fire fighting apparel and gave un-
stintingly of their time in protecting the town and surrounding
areas.

The Shoe Center was purchased in November, 1952 by Gilbert Swaim,
who has enlarged his facilities twice, once in 1954 and again in 1968, to
provide better service for his customers. The Shoe Center's owners and
employees are happy to be a part of Kernersville.

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