Westran Fire District Helps Future Generations
Since forming in 2015, the Westran Fire Protection District volunteers have given back to the small Huntsville, Missouri community. Activities like Christmas Toy Drives, helping with school and community activities, fire safety programs for kids, hosting County Government Day for area schools, helping with the Huntsville Rotary Club sweet corn scholarship fundraiser, partnering with local 4-H, and each individually giving back beyond their volunteer EMS duties.
In 2023 the Huntsville Missouri Historical Society began fundraising activities to help further preserve the 19’ x 19’ Allen Mayo log cabin, originally built in 1818 in the Mt. Airy area and was lived in by the Mayo family until the 1950’s. In 1976 it was moved to the Huntsville town square next to the Randolph County Courthouse and donated to the HMHS. Many citizens came together to preserve the history and heritage of the Thomas Mayo family, some of the first settlers in Randolph County.
From 1976 until 2023, years of preservation work by volunteers and family members took place. In 2023, the WFPD volunteers offered their services for the next phase of preservation when it was decided to add a porch roof to the 3 uncovered sides. The intent was to protect the 1818 hand-hewn logs from the elements and provide additional stability.
Groups including the Historical Society; Huntsville Rotary Club; Huntsville Community Club; WFPD volunteers; the City of Huntsville; Diamond Building Supply, local businesses; as well as so many individuals came together with donations for materials and support.
The process began in the spring of 2023 with plans being drawn up; research on Civil War graves in the area; City approvals being granted; bids for materials received, and asking for donations. In the summer of 2024, enough money had been raised to purchase building materials.
WFPD volunteers suggested an old-fashioned community “barn raising” event, a fish fry, to get the community involved and raise additional money for the cabin.
On June 15th the Courthouse square came alive with food, fellowship, and lots of hard work. More than 20 WFPD volunteers, their families; and members of the community began constructing the porch structure and cooking fish. By the end of the day, framing was complete and over 200 meals were served raising over $2500 for the Mayo Cabin Fund.
WFPD volunteers would spend another long 2 days putting the special order tin on the framing, several with their spouses and children looking on. No crowds, no on-lookers, no special recognition, the WFPD Volunteers finished the task for the benefit of their community, not for recognition.
Volunteer fighters all across the nation go above and beyond to make the folks in their districts safe and make their communities better places to live. WFPD Board of Directors supports the WFPD Volunteer’s community involvement and building bridges of cooperation with local organizations.
FFAM
