How To Fry Fish

Midway resident thanks local VFD with fish fry

It’s been more than 20 years since Macel Jeffries came home to find his house in Midway burning, but Jeffries has never forgotten the fire department that came to his rescue that day.

So it was that Jeffries stood behind a fryer on Saturday afternoon at the Midway Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fish fry, an event designed to be a humble thank-you to the men and women of the Midway VFD, and the community that supports it so selflessly.

The 20th annual Midway VFD Fish Fry came on the heels of a month of June where the organization truly showed its value. Two weeks ago, it seemed like in any direction you might travel from Madison County, there was a wildfire blocking your way.

Members of the Midway VFD stood on the front lines at several of those blazes, the largest of which in neighboring counties never crossed the county line.

As the brave men who battled those blazes stood in line for fish, brisket, and all the other elements of a grand home-cooked meal, Jeffries recalled the day they came to his rescue as well.

“I came home from a job delivering a tractor; it was a Sunday evening, and my house was burning,” Jeffries said. “The fire department was there, and as a man of moderate means I couldn’t donate anything to them money-wise, but after a year my wife decided that we could give them a fish fry.”

“I put my five brothers to work, and since then there has been one every year. I was raised in this county, and these men need all the help they can get and I appreciate every one of them. I needed all the help I could get that day, and they need all the help they can get right now.”

A large stage stood across from the Midway VFD fire station Saturday afternoon, bordered on the north side by fire trucks parked along Highway 21 and on the south side by children playing on playground equipment far off in the distance.

In the fire station itself, dedicated members of the Midway Rehab Team served the meal while the Leon County-based band Push Water performed on the stage. Members of both the Midway VFD and the community mingled seamlessly as folks came and went all afternoon.

“The fish fry is really where the VFD gives back to the community,” Midway Rehab Team member Sherry Ferguson said. “It’s nice to see the community turn out every year and enjoy this event. The biggest part of what we do as a rehab team is provide a support system for the firefighters, by bringing them water, making sure they don’t get overheated, and oftentimes at structure fires providing support for homeowners and helping them get in contact with other organizations that can help them.

how to fry fish from a newfoundlander | Deanne Fitzpatrick

Oh MY!! I can almost smell that glorious dinner. I am living in land-locked country where it is hard to find fresh fish. I grew up in NS with Newfoundlander grandparents. My grandmother was an awesome cook. she cooked fish at least 3 or 4 times a week. Now If I could just find her fish head stew recipe!! (but alas where would I ever find the cod’s heads?

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