By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — Fryeburg Rescue (FR) has been a capable, compassionate and very visible component of this community for more than 50 years.

Unfortunately, the 50-year mark occurred during COVID quarantine so the FR folks waited a couple years to offer the half-century celebration to the public.

Last month, at the onset of National EMT Week on May 21, an open house was held at the FR building, centrally located off Route 302, across from the Molly Ockett Middle School. More than a three-dozen people showed up during the day-long event.

In addition to Fryeburg, FR serves the towns of Brownfield, Chatham, Lovell and Stow. FR is a non-profit organization. 

Dispatcher Donese Oliver —  who has been active with FR since 1975 —  spent many evenings sorting through old photos in preparation for the open house. The people who popped into the rescue building to check out the public event commented on the vast array of pictures documenting FR’s history. Oliver was pleased to share details about the displayed photos.

It seems that the first junior rescue member later landed a job behind the camera for Channel 6 news. The teen’s name was Glenn Anderton. There is a photo of him standing behind an ambulance with its doors open and three EMTs sitting inside. 

“He became on EMT. He went to college. He went into photography and journalism. Then, he worked on Channel 6 news and he was a photo-journalist. Then, he went on to Maine Medical Center, where he does the marketing for Maine Medical Center,” Oliver explained.

“When he was about 12 years old, he bicycled down to the fryeburg fairgrounds during the summer when we were doing the pig roast. He asked if he could help us. We said, ‘Sure, you can dish the coleslaw.’ We put him to work. He was marvelous,” she said.

Since the Fryeburg Rescue began 52 years ago, more than 245 members have been involved in it, according to the FR web site.

Considering that Oliver joined the rescue department 48 years ago, she provides a first-hand account of those people who helped to shape the department.

Oliver refers to a photo of a female captain, Cynthia Walker, who served in from 1986 to 1987, during one of FR’s pig roast fundraisers. Prior to Walker’s service as captain, Sally Hill (whose married name is Whiten) had the title of captain from 1982 to 1983.

Oliver even recalls the person who drew the logo for the five-town rescue department.

Of course, she remembers the first captain.

“The first captain was Webster Fox. He started in 1971,” she said. 

Back then, the head of the rescue department was called captain instead of chief, she said.

“Web Fox was our first leader, known then as our captain,” the FR web site said. “He faithfully served the Fryeburg Rescue until his passing” in 2019.

“Rolland Wiley was our second captain,” Oliver said.

In the 1990s, FR Captain Richard “Dick” Fox played a vital role in fundraising, in getting local businesses to financially back the cost of the building. Additionally, he got building supplies donated.

Oliver stressed the importance of this happening. She pointed out the large signs on the upper wall naming the many businesses that helped with construction costs.

The building itself will be 30 years old this year, she said. 

“The old rescue was what is Spice and Grain over on Portland Street. That is the old one. That is where I started out,” Donese said.

The Fryeburg Rescue website outlines the history of the 50-year-old department.

“In the early days, we utilized a borrowed bay in the firehouse, at the time, located on Portland Street in the now Spice and Grain building. A red phone system alerted the squad to a call for help. We eventually took over the entire building when the [Fryeburg] Fire Department moved to [its} current location, the old A&P building on Main Street in 1975,” the website said.

“Our next move to our current building on Bridgton Road took place in 1993. Dick Fox was instrumental in seeing the building completed, leading a volunteer labor force using donated materials,” it said.

About seven years ago, another construction phase happened, and the size of the building was increased.

“Our latest station expansion took place in 2016 with the addition of several vehicle bays, office space and training and crew facilities, including a section dedicated for use by the Fryeburg Police Department,” the website said. 

On Sunday afternoon, a large room in the expanded portion of the building was in use because a CPR class was being offered.

Currently FR fleet includes three ambulances and a rescue unit. The FR owns a boat plus a side-by-side UTV that can be outfitted with wheels or tracks, depending on weather.

The vehicles have been updated over the years yet the dedication to fundraising for that equipment has remained consistent and strong.

“It’s a non-profit 501-C corporation. It was first organized in 1971. This is 52 years. It’s gone through a lot of changes,” according to Advanced EMT Michael Hatch.

“A lot of people have come and passed away. It’s sad,” Oliver said.

“It seems. Several generations have practically lived here,” Hatch said.