Rays from the now lowering western sun backlit a row of 15 grey hardhats and gold-painted shovels as city officials prepared for a groundbreaking ceremony.
A siren blast from a City of Newcastle fire and rescue vehicle signaled the beginning of the ceremony Monday at the wind-swept 555 S. Main Street location, and Mayor Karl Nail took to the microphone.
All five City Council members, the City Manager, the Fire Chief, firefighters, and architects and engineers from Guernsey and Lingo Construction joined together with local residents at the 4 p.m. groundbreaking.
Nail said the City’s $9.8 million project to rebuild Fire Station #1 on Main Street began back in 2011. He said the City Council and City staff wanted to build things for Newcastle that are generational — buildings that will last long after any of the current administration is around.
Nail said the City began saving money — putting it back in an account — to help pay for the facility so the City wouldn’t have to go into debt as much.
Now, within about one year there will be a facility capable of rooming 10 firefighting employees at a time, and a training room for up to 25. It is expected to have all the modern amenities needed for firefighters to serve their community.
The facility’s architect, Maria Prado of Guernsey, said last week that the building will serve as more than just a fire station. It is a symbol of progress, passion, and dedication of the future of the City.
Nail commended the architects and construction company personnel, saying they took the City’s vision and put it to paper.
Fire Chief Todd Yates said the facility has been a long time coming. He said he drives by the location on his way to work every morning, and it will be neat to see the progress as the station gets underway. Yates also offered his thanks to the city manager, mayor and the council, as well as Guernsey and Lingo Construction.
As the groundbreaking concluded, the fire and rescue truck again blared its siren. Those attending were able to snack on specially made cookies and drink a cold water while lingering for final questions and answers, or just socializing, with City officials.
City Manager Kevin Self said Lingo Construction would be at the site in Newcastle in about two weeks to start on the facility.
