SMITHVILLE FLATS – Saturday was a day of celebration in Smithville Flats, as community members gathered for a ceremonial ground-breaking at the site of the Genegantslet Fire Company’s new fire station.

The event marked a long-awaited milestone for the 158-year old volunteer department.

According to Genegantslet Fire Chief Bob Whitmore, a decade has passed since the GFC purchased the roughly 3 acre parcel, located on State Highway 41 just north of the organization’s existing fire house, which dates back to the early 1950s.

The department’s plan was always to construct a new facility at the site, Whitmore said, one which would more comfortably house modern fire-fighting equipment. Ironing out fiancing, permitting and planning took longer than anticipated, however.