The NBVFD wishes to extend a sincere thank you to former member Raymond Grierson for a recent donation to help commemorate the department’s upcoming centennial celebration.

Raymond’s father, Percy Lee Grierson (standing fourth from left at the truck door in the accompanying 1950s era photo), was a long-serving NBVFD member who held a variety of positions including Secretary and Assistant Chief.

Raymond saw a post about the centennial book project on the Old Calvert Photos FB page. He contacted us and advised he had two of his father’s helmets, one leather and one aluminum. When he brought them by the station for us to see, he surprised us by donating them to the department.

The helmets were manufactured by Cairns & Bros. of Clifton, NJ, one of America’s premier fire helmet manufacturers. The discs inside the crowns indicate the helmets were both made during the 1965-1966 manufacturing run. Both helmets are well-worn and look like they have seen significant action.

We could not be more honored to be entrusted with these two pieces of the NBVFD story, and look forward to putting them on display in the near future.

If you have any historical records, photos, or memorabilia you would like to share with the department, please contact John Tippett (pio@northbeachfire.com).

Thank you again, Raymond!