Lionel S. Key Charlottesville Fire Department Collection of Photographs, 1917-1985

Access and use

Location of collection:
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
200 Second Street, NE
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (434) 296-1492

Summary

Extent:
1 box
Creator:
Lionel Key
Abstract:
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains photographs related to the Charlottesville Fire Company and Charlottesville Fire Department, and some printed materials.

Biographical / historical:

Lionel Schultz Key was born in Charlottesville on July 18, 1905. His parents were John Benjamin Key and Alice Schultz Key. He was married to Alice Jeannette Corns. Mr. Key attended Lane High School and graduated in 1923. He worked for the Virginia Electric and Power Co. (VEPCO) for 47 years, beginning as a reader and retiring as general manager of the Charlottesville office. He joined the Charlottesville Fire Company in 1938 and was named "active chief" from 1951 to 1983, when he retired and became chief emeritus. Mr. Key "Chief" dedicated 47 years (32 as Chief of active firefighting service to the Charlottesville community). Key was an advocate for a central fire reporting system. He was president and life member of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association and was inducted into the Virginia Firefighters Hall of Fame. He was also life member of the International Fire Chief's Association.

Key was member of the Kiwanis' Club and recipient of the Kiwanis Hixon Fellow-Legion of Honor; was member of the Louisa Fire Company and the Louisa Fireman's Fair. He was a founding member and board member of the of Junior Achievement; member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Chamber of Commerce, Charlottesville-Albemarle Historical Society, Monticello Coin Club, and honorary member of the Charlottesville Municipal Band.

In 1965 he received the Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds, and in 1974 the American Legion Auxiliary Community Service Award. In 1978 he was awarded the Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award. Mr. Key died February 8, 2000 in Charlottesville.

Acquisition information:
Mr. Key's collection of photographs was donated in September of 2025.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged in chronological and alphabetical order.

Box 1

f.1: Provenance

f. 2: Charlottesville buildings: McIntire Park shelters; Buford Jr. High School; Walker Jr. High School; Lane High School (1953); UVA Memorial Gym; undated

f. 3: Charlottesville Farewell Military Parade, September 24, 1917 - Firemen marching on Main St., Holsinger photograph

f. 4: Charlottesville Fire Company, undated

f. 5: Charlottesville Fire Company, 1952 [group photographs]

f. 6: Charlottesville Fire Company Bowling Team, undated

f. 6a: Charlottesville Fire Department Company No. 1, Water and Main St., undated

f. 7: Charlottesville Fire Department By-Pass Station, undated

f. 8: Charlottesville Fire Department Central Headquarters, Ridge St., undated

f. 9: Charlottesville Fire Department Dedication of Ridge St. Station, [ca. 1959?]

f. 10: Charlottesville Fire Department, 1892. [Reproduction of an old photograph]

f. 11: Charlottesville Fire Department Cookout, 1962

f. 12: Charlottesville Fire Department miscellaneous photographs, undated

f. 13: Charlottesville Fire Department Group Photograph with identified persons in the back, undated

f. 14: Charlottesville Wards [Fire Alarms Locations?], undated

f. 15: Charlottesville Fire Department Children Programs, undated

f. 16: Charlottesville Fire Department miscellaneous photographs by Jim Carpenter and Edward F. Ware, 1972, undated

f. 17: Fires: Identified - Ash Tree Fire (10-03-1972); Fox Restaurant Fire (3-07-1972); unknown fire (1962)

f. 18: Fires Identified, dated and undated

1. Cavalier, undated

2. East High St.,undated

3. Hickys Wood Work Shop, River Rd., Jan. 22, 1963

4. Cabinet Shop Fire Bombing, July 1970

5. Lane High School, undated

6. Twin Maples Rooming House, 207 14th St. NW, March 24, 1962 [Daily Progress: 26-03- 1962]

7. Keller and George, East Main St., undated

8. Mayo Blackman, West Main St., undated

9. Sixth St. Fire, undated

f. 20: Fires Unidentified

f. 21: Firemen in Action, undated

f. 22: Firetruck Aerial Ladder, undated

f. 23: Hoff Motor Co. Fire, Charlottesville, June 24, 1953

f. 24: Key, Lionel S. photos, undated

f. 25: Liberty Bell at Ridge St. Fire Station, 1970s

f. 26: Maupin, Bernard (Fire Marshall and Arson Investigator), 1962, undated

f. 27: Municipal Band of Charlottesville, undated

f. 28: Rescue Squad members, undated (Rip Payne, photographer)

f. 29: Rivanna River Drowning, April 3, 1958 [Two men drowned when their boat capsized. See: Daily Progress April 5, 1958]

f. 30: Rivanna River Rescue, undated

f. 31: Rock Hill Academy Sports Teams, undated

f. 32: State Fire Chiefs Convention, Charlottesville, VA, 1952

f. 33: State Fire Chiefs Convention, Alexandria, VA, 1958

f. 34: University of Virginia Copeley Hills Apartment Fire, 1963

Printed Materials

- The Chain 1923. Published by the Senior Class of Charlottesville High School.

- 100th Anniversary Charlottesville Fire Co., 99th Annual Convention Virginia State Firemen's Association, Charlottesville, Virginia August 11-15, 1985

- National Geographic Magazine, Vol. XCVII, No. 5, May 1950

Other Materials

Medal: 9th Annual Convention Virginia State Firemen's Association, Charlottesville, Virginia August 11-15, 1985

UVA Cavalier Orange Soda Can with the portraits of Ralph Sampson and Terry Holland

Physical location:
Archive Room Shelves
Physical description:
.