"70 Years of Service"
On January 9, 1952 the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department was granted its North Carolina State Charter to be recognized as the 8th fire department to be formed in Mecklenburg County. This charter would legally allow a group of local citizens to receive fire related calls and respond in a fire unit to mitigate the incident. The members would construct a 3-bay block firehouse located at 6809 Beatties Ford Road near the intersection of Lakeview Road. The land was donated to the department by Mr. Jule Elliott who was a member of the department. The members also built their first fire engine and first tanker truck in a local welding shop and constructed a pond behind the firehouse to provide a water source for fighting fires in rural Mecklenburg County. As the years passed, 1958 would become the departments busiest year for calls as they responded to 23 runs that year. The members reportedly drove the fire trucks some 277 miles and kept fire losses down to an estimated $775. The primary area served by the Long Creek group extended up and down Beatties Ford Road, Gilead and some parts of Statesville Road, but it was not unheard of for the department to provide assistance to other departments throughout all of Mecklenburg County. Fire Calls were received by radio from the Mecklenburg County Police Department. A person needing the fire department would call FR6-3636 and the police would in turn notify the Long Creek volunteers. The department held many business meetings, training sessions and fund raisers. In 1958, the roster included Ben Lee, O.M. Johnston, E.A Todd, C.W. Kidd Jr, Jack Stewart, Thad Reames, Robert Henderson, Bill Todd, Wilton Dunn, Guy Climer, J.R. Beard Jr, M.A. Hilton, Pat Wilson, Bob Blythe, Ed Puckett, Lewis Parks, W.B. Elliott, Roy Mock, Duce Todd, J.R. Mack Jr, J.R. McIntosh, Marvin Todd, Bobby Russell, Ray McGinnis, Richard Hamilton, Charles Hamrick, Merton Vance, M.L. Riley, C.D. Beard, Ed Lyons, Frank Todd, Clyde Christenbury, George Kissie, Tom McClure, W.V Cornelius, Yates Aldred, Archie Bullock, D.E. Todd, Donald Caldwell, W.F. Puckett, H.H. Harper, Jack Griffin, Earl Link, Sammy Cross, Jack Wilson, Buddy Dotger, Shorty Johnston, Carl Mundy, Cobe Christenbury, Rev. D.E. Bailey, Don Mock, Bill Hamilton, Joe Johnston, Dean Oxidine and Charles Stephens. Two of the first Fire Chiefs were Mr. Emmett Wilson and Mr. Pete Elliott. In the late 50's the following members were officers of the department: Fire Chief Pete Elliott, Assistant Fire Chiefs Graham Link and Tom McClure, Board President Fred Dotger Jr, Board Vice President Jack Stewart, Department Treasurer Jule Elliott and Department Secretary Carl Beard. 
