Fire station rehab complete

Rehabilitation work of the city's first fire station has been completed.

The fire station was built in 1915 and will be used as a museum.

The work included brick restoration showcasing the craftsmanship of the early 1900s.

The original downstairs area has been renovated to serve as a museum and houses artifacts as well as collections from the historical era.

The upstairs area has been refurbished to provide new office space, with access between floors via a new elevator and stairs.

In Feb. 2009, the City Council awarded the project to ALMA Construction for $1.15 million.

The council approved a contract change in April increasing the construction costs to $1.3 million. Overall the project cost $1.27 million.

E Clampus Vitus fraternal organization restored the station's siren, which was used to call the volunteer fire department in the early 1900s.

The fire station is on D Street next to the Carnegie Library.

The council accepted the completed work during the June 28 city council meeting.