The Republican

Attend State Fire Association Meet

The Maryland State Firemen's association with its auxiliary held its annual convention at Ocean City, June 23, 24, 25.

Some 184 of 274 companies registered for the convention, while representatives of 57 of 176 auxiliaries were present. Companies from the Allegany-Garrett County associations were Frostburg, Midland, Lonaconing, Barton, Luke, Bloomington, LaVale, Corriganville, Baltimore Pike, District 16, Grantsville, Deer Park and Chapel Hose company.

Auxiliary units from the western Maryland group were LaVale, Mt. Savage, District 16 and Deer Park.

President of the State Firemen this year is John W. Smith, of West Annapolis, and president of the Auxiliary units is Mrs. Della Daugherty of Ocean City. Mrs. Ella Schell, of LaVale Ladies auxiliary, was elected senior vice-president. Some appointments made included Mrs. Flo Alexander, LaVale organizer for Allegany county and Mrs. George Comp, Jr., Deer Park, organizer for Garrett county. Mrs. Elizabeth Zembower, LaVale, will be convention chairman for the auxiliaries; Joseph Stuckey, Corriganville, chairman of the statistics committee for next year's convention. Cromwell Zembower was named chairman of the convention Liaison committee. Other chairmen and leaders will be named later.

An exciting part of the convention was the selection of a site for the 1955 convention, Ocean City and Cumberland were nominated. Cumberland won with a large majority. Host for next year's convention will be Chapel Hill Host company of Cumberland and sponsors will be the Allegany-Garrett County Volunteer Firemen's Association.

Barton Firemen won first prize for fire company coming the longest distance with fifteen or more men marching. They had twenty men marching. There were fifty fire companies and four auxiliaries in the parade on Friday afternoon.

Garrett county was represented by three people, John Pritchard of Grantsville, and Mr. and Mrs. George Comp, Jr., of Deer Park.