Albert L. Lancaster

City of Wilson Fire Chief
1938 – 1949

Albert L. Lancaster became a member of the all volunteer fire department in 1917. He rose up through the ranks and became the Fire Chief in the 1920’s. Chief Lancaster served in this role until 1933. Albert Lancaster was the President of A L Lancaster Plumbing Company and his office was located in the city market and municipal building which also housed the fire station. When the city market was damaged by fire in 1924, Chief Lancaster was charged with finding a suitable location for a new fire station and improving the department. Chief Lancaster proposed building the new fire station at 209 Douglas Street South. A piece of property the Chief Lancaster and his wife just happen to own. Chief Lancaster may have been planning to build a house on this lot until he sold it to the city. In 1925 Chief Lancaster had a house built at 206 Raleigh Rd. It was designed by S. B Moore and constructed by Samuel Winstead. The new fire station was completed and opened in 1926 with new modern equipment and improvements to the fire alarm system. In 1933 the city of Wilson changed to a city manager form of government and Chief Lancaster resigned his position. The new city manager just so happen to be a plumbing contractor and some say the two did not get along. In 1938 the city of Wilson started its first paid fire department. Albert L. Lancaster was hired as its first paid Fire Chief along with 10 other paid firemen. Chief Lancaster served in this position until his death in 1949.