Genegantslet Fire Company breaks ground on new fire station
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.
“It’s taken us 10 years,” the fire chief reported, explaining that members of the department have succeeded in raising $436,000 to date for the project. $100,000 of the amount raised came from a matching grant through the Raymond Foundation, with the remainder a result of GFC’s continued fundraising efforts which have included countless pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues, can and bottle drives, letter drives and more.
According to Whitmore, the new 7,500 square foot fire station will include four equipment bays to house the department’s fire trucks, as well as a radio room, chief’s room, maintenance room and kitchen. There will also be a dedicated meeting/banquet space, he explained, which will eliminate the need to move equipment out in order to host events like the pancake breakfasts.
The space will come in handy, the chief said, as the department plans to continue its fundraising efforts in the hopes of reducing the amount they must borrow for the project – which is expected to cost $650,000.
The organization’s next fundraiser will be another all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, which will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday at the old fire station. The cost is $5 per person.
Donations are also being accepted, Whitmore said. Checks can be mailed to the Genegantslet Fire Company, P.O. Box 151, Smithville Flats, NY 13841.
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.
“It’s taken us 10 years,” the fire chief reported, explaining that members of the department have succeeded in raising $436,000 to date for the project. $100,000 of the amount raised came from a matching grant through the Raymond Foundation, with the remainder a result of GFC’s continued fundraising efforts which have included countless pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues, can and bottle drives, letter drives and more.
According to Whitmore, the new 7,500 square foot fire station will include four equipment bays to house the department’s fire trucks, as well as a radio room, chief’s room, maintenance room and kitchen. There will also be a dedicated meeting/banquet space, he explained, which will eliminate the need to move equipment out in order to host events like the pancake breakfasts.
The space will come in handy, the chief said, as the department plans to continue its fundraising efforts in the hopes of reducing the amount they must borrow for the project – which is expected to cost $650,000.
The organization’s next fundraiser will be another all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, which will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday at the old fire station. The cost is $5 per person.
Donations are also being accepted, Whitmore said. Checks can be mailed to the Genegantslet Fire Company, P.O. Box 151, Smithville Flats, NY 13841.
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