Progress on The Last Station project in Dexter a cause for celebration
Oct. 4—DEXTER — Progress made on The Last Station Project in this village will be a cause for celebration on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Project volunteers invite the public to stop by The Last Station site from 1 to 3 p.m. to see the progress made on the building. That progress has been a community effort.
On May 16, concrete was poured into footing forms for The Last Station, a building in the village that will house two treasured historical pieces of equipment from the Dexter Fire Department along with various other memorabilia relating to the community's heritage of firefighters and firefighting. The Dexter Historical Society and the Dexter Volunteer Fire Dept. Inc. joined forces three years ago for the project. It's being constructed next to the Dexter Area Historical Society at Brown and East Kirby streets.
The society's home is the former First Universalist Church, constructed in 1841. The building was donated to the group in 1997 by remaining members of the church, but it was officially opened by the historical society in 2005.
Much-needed storage space is being planned for the Historical Society in the new building, built by Clark Construction, Adams. Currently, items that need to be stored are tucked away in the corners of the current building and off site in the Dexter village office.
On Jan. 1, 2012, the Dexter Volunteer Fire Department, as a village fire department, was terminated, and gradually most of the department's assets were absorbed by the Town of Brownville Joint Fire District.
Since the formation of the district, the DVFD refiled its status with the Department of State to become the Dexter Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Assets retained were an 1865 Rumsey Hand Pumper, a 1929 Brockway Fire Engine and various memorabilia.
The Last Station is designed to perpetuate the two pieces of apparatus and to display the memorabilia that represent the history of the DVFD, its membership and the community support.
The Last Station committee started the project development phase by holding a kickoff event in June of 2020. The public has responded with donations, and many area construction-related companies have donated time and/or equipment.
The Oct. 15 Progress Day also will feature complimentary hot dogs, popcorn and soda. A firefighter's boot will be ready to receive donations that will go to upcoming costs for the project.
"We're probably going to need another $40,000," committee chairman Gerry Kostyk said.
Since May, walls and the roof to The Last Station have gone up and spray foam insulation applied. A handicap mechanical lift was installed Tuesday and the building's overhead door went in on Wednesday. Committee members have applied for a grant for the building's HVAC system.
A sign in front of the building notes people and companies that have donated time, funds, effort and services to make the project happen.
The sign hasn't been updated since Netto Concrete Construction Corp., owned by Aaron Netto, poured the floor of the building in August. Netto didn't charge for the project.
"We didn't have to pay for that to be done," Kostyk said. "We paid for the concrete. It turned out really well."
In another example of companies that have assisted the project, Kostyk said that Crescent Gutter Works, owned by Todd Fleming of Chaumont, donated time and material in honor of the late Glenn (Stub) Heise, Karl A. Savage and Wendall W. Flath Sr., who all served as Dexter firefighters.
Heise died in February 2021; Savage in February 2014 and Flath in March of 2018.
The village and the town of Brownville have also been key to the success of the project, Kostyk said.
"The town provided all the crushed stone and things like the excavator," Kostyk said. "The village has really helped us out. They dug for the footings, and they'll be digging for the plumbing."
Kostyk said the committee is eager to show people around at the Oct. 15 event. "Members of the committee will be there to walk people around, show what's happening and what's going to happen."
