‘It feels like a relief to be back home’

Williamstown Fire Company is back home. 

The fire company’s Station 1, located on Main Street, went under a complete redevelopment for nearly two years. Construction began in September 2024, and the company returned to normal operations in the station at the end of July. 

During this time, the volunteer fire company worked out of the Monroe Township EMS building on Corkery Lane and the fire company’s Station 2 on Glassboro Road. 

The original station has been in this location since 1975. Fire chief Sean Nelms and president Andrew Disque said the redevelopment plan has been in the works since 2012 when a committee was formed. The project was completed by Robbie Conley Architect, LLC and Arthur J. Ogren Inc.  

“We had architects and engineers come in and assess the old building, and they could only save one wall, so it was just in the best interest to knock down (and) restart,” Disque said. “We wanted to expand on the footprint anyway, so this is a much bigger footprint than what we had before.”

According to Nelms, the original station was roughly 7,500 square feet. The new, expanded station is double the size, standing at roughly 15,000 square feet. 

The added space has allowed for improvements to existing spaces – like the engine bays and kitchen – and brand new spaces – like a gym and sleeping quarters. Disque said the new station is also “more functional” than it was before. 

“We have a big tower in the back, so we can drill a little bit more here,” he said. “I think the ease of function (allows) the ability for the members to come in, get in their gear and go right out to the trucks. Instead of having to scatter all around, they come right down this hallway.” 

A long, spacious hallway connects most of the rooms and areas inside the department. The flow, as Disque said, can help the firefighters smoothly get from one place to another as quickly and as efficiently as possible.  

The engine bay is a bit wider now, Nelms said, so there is more space between the company’s four fire engines. 

In addition to station basics – like men’s and women’s locker rooms (Nelms said there are currently four women volunteer firefighters with the company), the watch room, equipment and uniform storage, a kitchen and meeting room – more features were added that will benefit the company. 

There now are sleeping quarters, and each quarter has two twin sized beds and are set up similarly to a dorm. They added a gym with various fitness equipment. There are more offices for staff and the fire marshall (it used to be located in the municipal building). There is a day room for leisure with six reclining chairs, a TV and a conference table with chairs in the back that connects to a larger kitchen, which also connects to the meeting room (the meeting room is used for business meetings and training sessions). 

An antique room was also added to the front of the station. The room, with large windows, will serve as a historic, museum-like area. Memorabilia from the station will be hung up and in display cases. A mural with a company timeline will be added. The original bricks and lettering from the original fire company were able to be saved, and it is hung up over the display cases. 

The room will also store the company’s antique 1928 American LaFrance fire truck, which they use for funeral services of members of the company who have passed. 

Additionally, in one of the hallways, photos of all the company’s chiefs and presidents are displayed. 

Disque described the overall station as “more homey” and “more comforting.”

“I think it really does a great job of honoring the tradition of the fire company,” he said. 

He said that older firefighters often come to “hang out, trade stories and catch up” at the station during drill nights. It often is a time and place for generations of members of the company to unite together. However, the company was unable to have these kinds of moments and gatherings over the last two years, so Disque said it is nice to have their own home base again.

“It feels like a relief to be back home, because even though the building that we were in before was serviceable for our needs, it wasn’t necessarily ours,” Disque said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be our home, and there is a sense of pride and family that comes along with being part of the fire company.”

The Williamstown Fire Company will host a building dedication event on Saturday, September 26 1 p.m to 10 p.m. The community is invited to the free event to celebrate the new station and honor a new chapter for the fire company.

At 1 p.m., a parade will kick off on Main Street. It will feature fire trucks from Williamstown and neighboring communities. A dedication ceremony will occur at 2 p.m.

The rest of the family-friendly day will feature live music, food trucks, a beer and soda garden, and a 50/50 raffle. 

“We want the public to come up and see where their tax dollars went, (and we want to) show everything off, have a little pride and thank them,” Nelms said. 

“(The firehouse) is theirs as much as it is ours,” Disque said.