It has been a very long time coming, but Newtown Hook & Ladder, the volunteer fire company that serves the central fire district including the Borough, soon expects to occupy its new Colonial-style firehouse at 12 Church Hill Road.

Fire officials estimate that the two-story structure, which has approximately 16,500 square feet of floor space, is about 95 percent complete. They hope to start using the structure by early September, after various remaining construction tasks are completed.

Although the building appears quite traditional as viewed from the street, its interior is very modern, with various features and amenities provided within to encourage company members to spend time there.

Newtown Hook & Ladder is one of five local volunteer fire companies. The other companies are based in Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook, and Botsford.

Hook & Ladder firefighters had been seeking new quarters for more than 25 years, but for one reason or another, plans for a new facility at various locations repeatedly fell through.

Fire company members eventually pursued new construction at 12 Church Hill Road as a suitable location for a new building to replace the dilapidated town-owned firehouse at 45 Main Street, whose original section has been in use since 1929.

The current firehouse was "condemned" in 1998, being deemed structurally unsound. Since then, steel beams have been in place to prop up that failing structure.

The fire company purchased the 3.16-acre site on Church Hill Road for the new firehouse for $500,000 from Trinity Episcopal Church. The construction work for the new structure is estimated to cost approximately $2.5 million. The town has approved a $1.5 million subsidy for the project.

The fire company has received donated services to keep down the overall cost of the new building, which the fire company will own, according to Hook & Ladder President Rick Camejo.

Claris Construction Inc designed the project and oversaw its construction. The firehouse project was subject to review by the Borough Zoning Commission and the Borough of Newtown Historic District Commission.

Hook & Ladder Vice President Rich Frampton noted that the Aquarion Water Company's new pumphouse for its public water supply system is under construction at the firehouse site. That facility will replace an underground pumping station located at 3 Main Street.

Dave Ober, a former Hook & Ladder fire chief and a current member of its board of directors, said that company members are looking forward to operating out of the new firehouse, after many years of working out of very tight quarters at 45 Main Street.

Besides the basic features of garage space, offices, day room, meeting room, kitchen, pantry, rest rooms, and shower, the new firehouse holds a large room where the fire company will display its extensive collection of antique fire equipment. The fire company marches with some of that equipment in the town's annual Labor Day Parade.

Mr Ober said he expects that fire company morale will be boosted by working out of suitable quarters after many years of working in a problematical firehouse.

Besides the 1929 firehouse's physical problems, the building faces a large parking lot that is used by people attending Edmond Town Hall events. That situation created access issues for the fire vehicles using the firehouse.

Hook & Ladder Fire Chief Ray Corbo said he is very pleased that the fire company has been able to finally resolve the many problems posed by the firehouse at 45 Main Street.

"We couldn't ask for a better location," he said of 12 Church Hill Road.

The new structure meets the requirements of the Historic District Commission, he said, adding, "I think that the citizens will be pleased."

"It's been a very long time coming," he said of the new firehouse. Chief Corbo has been a Hook & Ladder member since 1988.

Chief Corbo said that because the fire company serves the Borough, its firehouse needs to be located within the Borough.