Brief History: Swamp Fox Boat and Rescue
Squad
Now known as the Swamp Fox Boat Club, a nonprofit organization
established in 1964, the founding members, under the leadership of Danny
Bell, organized a water rescue and ambulance service for the lower east
end of Orangeburg county and adjoining area of Lake Marion. At first
members monitored CB radios from their homes or businesses for boaters in
trouble, answered search, rescue and recovery calls as well and calls for
ambulance service 24 hours a day. Personal boats were used to answer calls
on the water. Some calls ended with a happy rescue while others ended with
a sad recovery effort. Members took first aid classes at
Bell’s restaurant. Some
members drove the ambulance while others administered first aid or gave
comfort to those being transported in the ambulance.
The first ambulance was donated by E. A. Crout, Ford dealer in Holly
Hill. To fund the ambulance and rescue effort, the group sponsored boat
races in cooperation with Rut Connor, a founding member, at Rocks Pond
Campground. Many hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, Mama Billy’s BBQ and
cold drinks were sold from the “handi house” at the races. Christmas and
New Year’s dances were also sponsored to fund the squad efforts to provide
service to the area.
The group, whole families with children and parents, took yearly boat
trips with families paying their way and traveling by boat or going part
of the way in a caravan pulling the boats, then launching the boats with
luggage and picnic baskets included. Some trips were to Cedar Key, off
the
Florida coast,
Daytona Beach, Stuart and
Silver Springs
Florida,
Tennessee
Valley
Authority
Lakes in
Tennessee,
Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina, and
Wrightsville Beach.,
North Carolina. Those were
the days! One member/boat would lead the way with a partner reading the
charts as the boats traveled along. Break downs were common on the road
as well as on the water. All would stop and help. Everything was a
cooperative effort. Now there are one or two short trips planned. One
trip is to
Charleston on the weekend
after Labor Day, the other trip during the spring or summer.
When the area Volunteer Ambulance Service was formed the Ambulance was
donated to this effort and was stationed in Eutawville. Later an
Orangeburg
County wide ambulance service
was established with
EMS units in strategic areas of the
county.
In 2004, the club submitted a proposal through the SC legislature and The
Department of Transportation to designate a portion of Highway #6 as the
Danny Bell Memorial Highway.
Following a program and reception the family unveiled the signs at the
beginning and end of the designated portion of Highway # 6.
Over the years the organization has changed from meeting at
Bell’s Restaurant or the “Clubhouse” at
Bell’s
Winter Park to meeting in
homes and now to meeting at
Chef's Choice Steakhouse most of the
time.
From being a rescue-ambulance service moving to being a non-profit
organization, donating grants to area charities. From 18 families in the
beginning, 40 families a few years ago and now 60 families are involved.
The club meets on the last Monday night in the
month except for the months of December and May. Yearly dues,
$20.00/family and $10.00/individual, pay for the regular business and
meeting expenses during the year. Members may invite guests one time for
possible membership and they are voted into the club after an application
is filled out and turned in to the officers. Officers are the president,
president elect, secretary, treasurer and board consisting of all past
presidents. Committees and officers carry out the duties/activities of the
club with the Boat Poker Run committee carrying out the plans associated
with the annual Poker Run.
2008 grants amounted $1,800.00 each to First
Responders in three local fire departments and several area charities.
Virginia Chapman
