The operator of the first ambulance service in Stanly County is unclear. According to the Jan. 31, 1907 Stanly Enterprise, Parker-Little Furniture Company had just become the second. Over the years that followed, the local furniture stores provided ambulance services along with a hearse for their funeral departments. The furniture stores eventually spun off their funeral businesses which continued to maintain the ambulance services. In early September 1961, Hartsell Funeral Home, Lefler Funeral Home and Stanly Funeral Home notified the Albemarle City Council and the Stanly County commissioners that effective Dec. 1, 1961, they would no longer provide ambulance services due to the high costs and disruption to their funeral businesses. Local officials considered setting up a new business that would be supported by the local governments. In early October, the State Attorney General said this was not one of the “powers now delegated” to local authorities. As the Dec. 1, 1961 deadline approached, the funeral homes agreed they would continue providing ambulance services for 60 days. Early in 1962, a private service, known as Ambulance Service Company, was formed to solve the impasse. {Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}