The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-09
By CARL CAHILL
Star Staff Writer

Wilmington's genial fire Chief,
j. Ludie Groom expects to round
out so years with the department
before he %-etires.
Despite his 40 years of service,
which gives him the title of the
second oldest chief in the point of
service in the state, Chief Groom
las week started into his 4lst
year with the department with a
vim and vigor for service few of
those his senior display.
Is was on June l, 1907, Chief
Groom said that he walked into
the local fire station and reported
for duty as a substitute fireman.
Chief Groom celebrated his 10th
anniversary with the department
on Sunday, June l, at 8 a. m. That
was the exact time he entered the
station to relieve one of the 81
firemen on 24-hour duty. Only one
other fire chief still active has
more years of service. He is w.
H. Palmer of Charlotte.
While Groom still lacks the title
OF the dean of fire chiefs in North
Carolina he can claim many other
firsts in the field of fire-fighting.
He invented the Ludie Groom
Master Gauge to calculate the
pressure on booster pumps in re-
lation to different nozzel sizes,
hose lengths and heights of floors
III buildings; he was the first per
son to drive a motor operated fire
engine in North Carolina and he
was one of the three men to start
the North Carolina Fire College
and Drill School which meets this
year on June Is in Durham.
Chief Croom's first promotion.
most of which oddly came on the
first of the month, was on Sep
TENDER 1, 1912. He was made
Lieutenant then, On October l,
1929 he was made captain; on
July /, 1882, second assistant
chief; on June 20, 1888, first as
sistant chief and on July l, 1887,
he vas made chief. In all his years
of service he has been sick only
a few times and his only accident
was when he cut his thumb.
In the old days, Chief Groom re-
called. firemen got only one day
off in 10 and made only $45 a
month. Wilmington had only four
stations, three hose wagons, n
hook and ladder truck and two
steam fire engines.
The Wilmington fire chief began
his career under the late Charles
S%chnibbens, who was killed in an
automobile accident while going
to a fire. Schnibbens, who was
then chief, recommended Chief
Groom from the personnel of the
fire department to take a course
at the New York Fire College In
1927.
He was a mar for whom had
the highest respect and regard as
l feel he is greatly responsible
for my caree as a fireman.
Chief Groom said of S~chnibbens.
The biggest fire in Wilmington
since he started with the depart
ment was the Seaboard Terminal
in 1909. Two warehouses were lost
in that conflagration at the foot
of Hanover Street. Damage was
estimated at almost $500, 900 and
firemen fought the blaze over "a
hours.
It was some time after that in
1929 that the Wilmington fire
chief, with William C. Hodges,
now State insurance commission
err and F. j. Fitzgerald, Asheville
fire chief, started the North Car
DINA Fire College and Drill
School.
The first session was held in
Asheville and attendance grew so
rapidly that now there are seven
instructors, Chief Groom said.
Many home owners little know
that Chief Groom may have low
cred their fire insurance rates.
II feel that our efforts in train
inc firemen in North Carolina is
largely responsible for lowering
our rates throughout the State"
he said.
"Since my career as chief OF
the fire department, I feel that
Wilmington has received quite q.
Recognition from the National