SMITHVILLE FLATS – More than one hundred people turned out Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the Genegantslet Fire Company’s new fire station.
The event marked a long-awaited milestone for the 159-year old volunteer department.
The GFC purchased the three-acre piece of property on which the new facility sits in 2000, when the department’s leaders first decided to replace the existing 1950s era fire house. It took 10 years for the organization to raise money to break ground on the project, which they did last September.
The new 7,500 square foot facility has four equipment bays to house the department’s fire trucks, as well as a radio room, chief’s room, maintenance room, kitchen and dedicated meeting/banquet space.
Genegantslet Fire Chief Bob Whitmore said he expects the final price tag for the fire station to be between $620,000 to $650,000. The department has received bank financing for roughly a third of that amount. The remainder, they have raised themselves.
The fire company received two large donations toward the project: a $100,000 matching grant from the Raymond Foundation and a bequeath from Smithville residents Henry and Ruth Bottle of over $38,000.
How did they manage to raise the remaining $200,000? Through countless pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues, can and bottle drives, letter drives and more.
Smithville Town Supervisor Allan Johnson was one of several local dignitaries present for the ceremony. He praised the men and women of the Genegantslet Fire Company for their tenacity, hard work, perseverance and persistence in seeing the project through to completion.
On behalf of the town, he offered “sincere and heart-felt congratulations” to the department and the community for this accomplishment, of which he said they all can be proud.
Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith also praised the department, and specifically the chief for all of their efforts over the last 11 years.
“Without the leadership and devotion of Chief Robert Whitmore and all of his officers and members, we would not be here today celebrating the grand opening of this beautiful new station,” Beckwith said.
“Through their forethought, this community icon will serve the residents of Smithville and the members of the Genegantslet Fire Company for many years to come. Congratulations, Bob and the members of the Genegantslet Fire Company,” he concluded.
Assemblyman Clifford Crouch also offered his congratulations, commending the department for their dedication to the project.
“God bless all of you for the job that you do,” he said.
Whitmore thanked all those who had a hand in helping build the new facility, including community members and businesses who contributed time, effort and materials to the cause.
“All the planning and hard work, I think the building proves it was well worth the wait,” the chief said.
Following the ceremony, the fire station was welcomed into service with a “wet down.” Neighboring departments Brisben, Greene, Willet, Cincinnatus and McDonough, along with Genegantslet’s own apparatus, participated in the initiation – meant to bring luck – by spraying the facility with water.
The county fire bureau’s new fire investigation vehicle was also doused in similar fashion.
Those who attended the grand opening were treated to tours of the new facility as well as lunch. Each also received a souvenir coffee mug, commemorating the occasion.