Tanner recalls journey as area firefighter

HEMINGWAY—Herbert Tanner of Hemingway enjoys fighting fires, not for the pleasure of fighting, but knowing that it is a means of helping someone who is in trouble. That is why he has given the last 70 years of his life to firefighting with the Hemingway Fire Department.

Herbert was honored recently when the men of that department recognized his contributions by presenting him with a plaque for his years of past service to the town and the surrounding area as a member of the fire department. Town officials further honored him by naming the fire department the “W. Herbert Tanner Building”. A large bronze marker will be erected to designate the building for years to come.

Herbert said he does not enjoy a fire, but when he can be a part of firefighting he feels that he is helping someone who is in trouble. To be able to help save a life is wonderful and he feels the loss of property, especially a home, is next to losing a family member. In each instance, it takes compassion to face the dangers one is placing on their own life to respond to a call.

Herbert was well roasted at this meeting, saying it was so well orchestrated that it left him speechless. Family and friends had organized things so well to make sure he was at the meeting and to assure that the honor would be a complete surprise to him. He visited one of his physicians the following day and the first thing the doc said was, “Congratulations!” When Herbert asked how he knew, he replied that he had known about the event for some time.
Herbert was born in Johnsonville, a son of Robert Benjamin and Recktina Baxley Tanner, one of seven siblings, on a farm his father owned where Player Furniture now stands. When he was a year old, his dad sold the farm and bought another near Hemingway. He graduated from Hemingway High School. After graduation, he worked for the S.C. Highway Department driving a tractor, where he plowed the then dirt road from Outland to Hemingway and from Hemingway to Intiantown. He recalled that while he was with that department he helped pave Main Street in Hemingway.

When World War II started, he was called into service and spent two years in combat with the U.S. Army. After Ft. Knox he went to England where he was in the invasion of Normandy. On his return, Tanner went to work with Hyman Motor Company in Hemingway, a Chevrolet distributor, where he worked until it was sold to Don Fenters and continued for another five or six years, retiring in 1982.

The Hemingway Fire Department was started in 1936 and Herbert became a member in 1939, back when there was no modern equipment, just a siren to alert firemen of an emergency and an old Merita Bread truck they used to haul the hose and nozzle. At this time, the town had neither municipal water or sewer service. “A lot of houses burned down back then,” he said.

He recalled that the town bought a new Ford truck with which to haul hands from the Dunbar Community to dig the ditches in which to lay both water and sewer lines. Once this project was completed, they took the body off and sent the truck to Rock Hill where they had an engine installed on it…no cab, just a truck with an engine.

He said one of the worst fires he recalled was when Rich Prosser’s warehouse burned. It was winter and Johnsonville had no fire department. The guy manning the pump had the pressure so high it took four men to hold the hose. The force of the water would knock the weather boarding off the building when it hit, but they put out the fire.

He recalled a number of fires that have left lasting memories, some not so pleasant. At a fire in Midway there was a big picture window and onlookers could see people walking around in the house, apparently trying to find a way to escape. He recalled where a man from Gordon Town had an outboard motor and a can of gas in the back of his truck. On his way home he was hit by a car, the gas can turned over, spilled on the muffler and ignited. Herbert said he got there ahead of the other firemen. The man was pinned in the truck and he could see him using a crowbar to try to get out. Unfortunantly, he was unable to escape and was killed in the fire. Another time they answered a call to a home on Tupperware Road where they found two small children right inside the front door where they had tried to get out. On a cold night (12-18 degrees) about 2 a.m. they answered a call to Donnelly where the water from the pumper froze as soon as it hit the ground. This caused to firemen to slip here and there, having no footing. But all fires aren’t fatal. He recalled this past year George Huggins’ house caught fire with his wife asleep in the back bedroom. She had to be awakened and exit by the fire where she was burned, but survived and is doing well. Many times after fighting a fire, Herbert said he couldn’t sleep at night.

His department has 15 firemen and two pumps, but they are always in need of more new equipment. His job is to operate the pump in addition to ordering all supplies.

When he was forced to spend a lot of time out of town because of a family situation, he resigned as chief, bowing to George Sutton. George says he is still the acting chief and if Herbert leaves the department, he will be leaving, also. That shows the esteem the firemen hold for Herbert, the affection and trust they have for him.

He said some folks think the fire department is just a social thing where the men get together to eat and talk, but that is not the case at all. They are continuously training to become more efficient in their work.

George said he doesn’t know how Herbert manages it, but he is usually the first one to the station when the alarm is sounded, no matter what time of night it is. “He must sleep with his clothes on. He is very dedicated to the fire fighting profession and can tear a fire truck down and put it together again,” he said.

George said Herbert has his private parking place at the fire department. Just to “get his goat” recently, someone purposely parked in his place. He then parked in the wrong direction on the street. All this part of a practical joke, but Chief Brian Todd gave him a ticket for $250 for illegal parking. Now, there is a sign for Herbert’s parking place that reads, “DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT”, parking there, that is.

Herbert was married for 51 years to the late Ruth Haselden Tanner. They have one son, Ronnie, and his wife, Melanie, of Beaufort, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ronnie and Melanie were present for the roasting and dinner that followed. Ken Laster had prepared his wonderful low country pileau in the big black iron wash pot and it was accompanied by the traditional trimmings and followed by cake and ice cream.

The residents of Hemingway and the surrounding area need to compliment Herbert when they see him and wish him many more years of service. After all, they don’t grow men like Herbert Tanner anymore.