Evening star., 1946-09-15
Volunteer Firemen
Dance al Branchvile
After Hours Parade

The Prince Georges County Vol
unteer Firemen's Association. it's
ranks restored by returning service
men, last night brought to a close
Its Oath. annual convention with a
street dance at Branchville.
The dance climaxed a day of
carnival celebrations including a
parade of A trucks and nine am
balances that crept at a snail's pace
along the Baltimore boulevard be-
tween Branchville and College Park
Backlogged north-bound traffic
stretched toward Washington as
far as the eye could see along the
boulevard while the parade took
nearly an hour along the boulevard.
During the afternoon firemen of
38 companies from as far away as
Frederick and Fairfax County. Va,
competed in traditional firemen's
contests, as well as settling an intra-
county volunteer softball champion
ship.
Sirens Are Deafening.
Between 500 and 600 spectators
lined the boulevard in Branchville
alone. The parade, If not the longest,
probably was the loudest in the as
sociation's history. Every pumper,
truck and rescue squad ambulance
set up deafening wall with siren
and exhaust whistle.
During the parade, two Bladens-
burg trucks suddenly departed from
line to respond to a field fire near
Peace Cross. The call was received
by radio from the Hyattsville police
station.
Later, the Bladensburg Fire De-
partment defeated the Branchville
volunteers, 4 to 3, in a softball game,
winning the associations cham
pionship pennant.
Before the street dance, the as
sociation held its closing business
session and elected officers. The
ladies auxiliary, which also was in
annual convention, elected officers
Friday night but announced results
last night.
The flremen named John M.
Brown, Seat Pleasant, to succeed
A. E. Rehinbold, Cottage City, as
president. T. Alan Penn, Clinton,
won in five-way contest for the
vice presidency; F. B. Heimer,
Branchville, was elected secretary;
Vincent A. Simmel, Cottage City,
treasurer, and James E. Sampson,
chaplain.
Next years convention will be
held at Hyattsville, 1t was decided.
The auxiliary, which voted in the
Holy Redeemer Catholic School,
Berwyn, selected Mrs. Magdalene
Schmidt, Capitol Heights, as presi-
dent, to succeed Mrs. Alice Grimes,
Mrs. Margaret Koenig,
West Lanham. was named vice
president; Mrs. Mary Walker, Ber-
wyn Heights, secretary: Mrs. Marie
Murphy, Brentwood, treasurer; Mrs
Pauline Parker, Cottage City, his
torian, and Mrs. Annie Beall, Laurel,
guard
Battalion Chief J. w. Kay, Capt.
j. r. Best and 1t. Edwin Meredity,
all of the District Fire Department,
acted as judges for the contests and
parade awards. A controversy de-
veloped over the award for the
company coming the longest dis
tance and a decision was not made
until last night when cup was pre-
sented the volunteer company from
Cockeysville, Baltimore County.
Sasscer Gives Awards.
Representative Sasscer, Democrat
Of Maryland, presented most of the
cups at banquet last night in the
School, The awards
and winners are as follows:
Tug-of-war, Riverdale. best ap-
pearing in parade from the county
and from towns of more than 1000
population. Laurel; best appearing
from county towns of less than l.
600 population, Boulevard Heights:
disappearing county ambulance,
Glenn Dale; most men in parade,
Laurel; disappearing ladies' drill
team, Frederick; disappearing
unit from outside the county, West
Annapolis; best outside ambulance,
Violetville.
Also, pumper standing hook-up