The Old Fire Station No. 1 Museum will soon be protected by a new and improved roof.
Work on the museum’s roof was expected to start last week, however there was a short delay because they first had to complete the Certification of Appropriations application for review and approval by the Greenville Historic Preservation Committee. Now that it has been approved, Fire Chief Ruben Brown said the work should begin sometime this week.
Once the work begins, it is expected to be completed in five business days, pending weather conditions.
After the roof is replaced, Brown said another assessment will be conducted of needed repairs at the museum. From there, a repair priority list will be formed, with an HVAC system at the top of the list.
At the Aug. 6 Greenville City Council meeting, the bid for the roof repairs for the fire museum was awarded to the lowest and best bidder, Gary McGee Roofing.
During last year’s budget session, Brown on behalf of the Greenville Fire Department requested $10,000 from council members for roof repairs to the museum, which was approved and placed as a line item.
The fire department was ultimately awarded $12,889. The remaining balance of $2,889 was requested from the Community Foundation of Washington County (CFWC) to complete the payment.
Terri Lane, executive director for CFWC, said they are still raising funds for the fire museum, which needs far more than just a new roof.
“In collaboration with Chief Ruben Brown and the members of the Greenville Fire Department, we are continuing to raise additional funds to support the vast restoration project needed to repair and enhance the Greenville Fire Station Museum to serve the children of our community and beyond,” Lane said.
Through the Greenville Fire Station Museum Restoration Fund, which is overseen by CFCW, individuals, businesses, faith-based institutions and non-profit organizations can combine their resources, so that collaboratively they can work together adding donated dollars with government dollars to ensure the Greenville Fire Station Museum is here for generations to come, Lane explained.
Interested donors can give to the Fire Station Museum Restoration Fund by visiting the Community Foundation’s website, cfwashco.org, to make an online donation. Or, people can mail their contribution to: The Community Foundation of Washington County, P.O. Box 5910, Greenville, MS 38704. Checks need to be sure to have “Greenville Fire Station Museum Restoration Fund” in the memo line.
The Fire Museum is open by appointment only. It can also be rented for special events. For more information, call GFD at 662-378-1616.
Background
In 1923, the museum was originally used as a cotton factoring office. In 1931, when the levee building forced the closure of the then fire station one block to the west, the department moved into the space. Firefighters stayed there until 1966. The doors remained closed until 1994, when the building was designated as a Mississippi Landmark by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. That same year, it became a city museum. Over the years, however, the doors only opened for private parties and by appointment.
Chief Brown received the keys to the Old Fire Station No. 1 Museum in Nov. 2017 and instantly started looking into grants and extra funds to restore the museum to its original glory.
Approached by Brown for assistance, Lane and CFWC, shortly after, set up the Greenville Fire Station Museum Restoration Fund to allow former and current residents to donate dollars.
Brown and the fire department also hosts boot drives throughout the year to receive extra funds for restoration for the museum.
