History of the Ladies Auxiliary

Within a year of the establishment of the fire company, the Idle Park Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary was formed.  The group originally took its name from the Idle Park voting district but is now known as the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company and its Auxiliary.

While the Idle Park VFD was still in its planning stage, the men realized they needed to raise funds for trucks and other equipment.  They called on their wives for help in this endeavor.  The women joined their husbands in planning and serving spaghetti dinners for the community.  The dinners were served at Jimmy Wadesworth's Idle Inn in Longbridge (currently the Road Toad). 

The dinners continued very successfully through the move to the Quarry Barn.  After interior renovations, the barn was to be used as the first home for the Idle Park Volunteer Fire Department and its Ladies Auxiliary.  However, in 1969 when the company purchased property and built a fire hall at its present location on Darlington Road, the Ladies Auxiliary moved with them.

Over the years a wide variety of fund raisers were had, including: a fair, stage plays, flea markets, the selling of greeting cards, napkins, flower bulbs, fudge and cookbooks and dinners serving spaghetti, chicken, beef, turkey, and other dishes as well.  

The longest running and most profitable fund raiser was the ladies’ infamous Easter Eggs.  Over 1,000 pounds of caramel nut and fondant were used to make the eggs over the 40 year period the ladies sold them. Due to a shortage of volunteers, this popular fund raiser was discontinued in 2000. 

For many years, the firemen helped the Ladies Auxiliary make Easter Eggs. And now both groups continue to work together throughout the company’s many fund raisers.

Charter Members:

Betty Bennett              Lois Blaney       

Annabel Corna            Ann Voegele  

Grace Burkert             Helen Fry 

Virginia Hays               Madelyn Johnson  

Hila Sweeney              Ruth Crowe  

Nellie Bell                    Martha Brinker 

Mildred Wedge            Alice Kozenko

Current Members:

President- Linda McDowell                 Vice President- Jo Johnson

Secretary- Brenda Lynn                     Treasurer- RitaHorrell

Chaplain- Willie Ulery

Trustee- Roxanne Rose                     Trustee- Lori Ramsey

Lynn Komar                                       

Kelly Komar

Barbara Varndell                                

Nikki Rose

Monica Ivory