By Nancy Jo Smith
News & Record
Copyright 2006 News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
All Rights Reserved
PLEASANT GARDEN - Donald Whitaker recalls his first contact with firefighters was about 1941 when his father, a highway patrolman, temporarily boarded at the Goldsboro Fire Station. The family soon moved to the area and Donald enjoyed visiting the station and was impressed with the kind, friendly nature of the men he met.
As a young man, he became a volunteer with the Elon College Fire Department while he was a truck driver for Sun Oil Co.
His next job was as dispatcher for the Central Fire Station in Greensboro . It’s the only paid fire fighting position he has ever held.
Whitaker was the Level Cross fire chief for 22 1/2 years. He served Pleasant Garden for two years in the same capacity, until its board of directors decided the district needed a full-time, paid chief. He now is a dministrative c hief with Climax Fire Department.
For more than 50 years Donald Whitaker collected anything related to fire fighting, including more than 3,000 patches. His wife, Ethel, kept nudging him to build a place to display it.
The result is Donald’s Fire Haven Museum, a 2,400 -square- foot building, located “south of the border” (i.e., Randolph County) next to their home at 7249 Branson Mill Road, Pleasant Garden. Their house happens to straddle the county line.
Although the building was completed in April 2002, it was two years before they were able to see his entire collection because Donald had so many boxes of history stashed away that it took that long just to unpack. He and Ethel were surprised he had only a few duplicates.
Donald gives Ethel credit for the orderly display of his vast collection. Her understanding of its diversity and penchant for categorizing are obvious. An original Smokey the Bear is encased near ranger hats and related articles. A Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments depicting fire fighters, and circled by a train carrying cars loaded with fire trucks.
Lighted glass display cases hold rows of neatly arranged miniature fire trucks. A “plain Jane” Russian toy firetruck stands out among its American counterparts.
This toy and the Russian firefighter’s suit displayed on one of two mannequins, are some of the souvenirs from Whitaker’s 1993 exchange trip.
The dress uniform and other gear from Lyon, France, were acquired through a local resident who was a volunteer there.
From the old GFD ticker-tape alarm, to the early 20th- century ladder used by city fire fighters to climb apartment buildings, Donald patiently explains their use. A spacious book-lined office houses his library, modern office equipment and one of his favorite acquisitions, a stained glass window depicting the significance of a fire fighter’s love for and service to humanity.
The garage bay, although nearly full, has room for the 1955 LaFrance 750 gpm pumper that is undergoing restoration.
The car Donald used many years at Level Cross sits under his carport. When it was outdated and sold, the men who had worked with him knew just the place for it. Their gift will also be restored.
There are few other fire fighting museums in the state , but none is as extensive.
Be prepared to have a good time looking and visiting with this friendly, gracious couple. You’ll be glad you did.