Farmingdale Fire Department To Celebrate Building Renovation

FARMINGDALE, NJ — The borough will be buzzing Saturday, and even with a vintage car show and a Halloween Trail planned, there is a stand-out attraction - an open house for the newly renovated Farmingdale Firehouse.

Assistant Chief Jim Herrman said the six-month renovation is the first in a three-phase project.

But it was an important structural part of the process.

"We started planning in 2021. There were severe structural issues in an old building, as you can imagine," Herrman said.

The original building, located at 54 Main St. and owned by the Borough of Farmingdale, was erected in 1911. The historic cornerstone of the building is visible once again after being plastered over in the 1950s, Herrman said.

The Fire Department made up concept plans and presented them to the Mayor and Council and was then advised about applying for a Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant.

The grant provided $207,000 for the project; the department provided $60,000 through its fundraising and the borough provided $33,000, Herrman said. It was a joint effort through the three funding sources to arrive at $300,000 for the first phase, he added. Estimates for the final two phases are being developed.

And as part of the "reveal," the department will have a grand reopening of the firehouse for the public at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Visitors can tour the space and see the firetrucks. There is even a pumpkin-painting event for kids that is also a fundraiser for the department, Herrman said. You can read more about the department and the event on Facebook.

Also, there is the "Cruisin' Main Street" vintage car show presented by the the Howell Optimist Club and the Borough of Farmingdale. The Recreation Commission's Halloween Trail will also be open all weekend, starting Friday.

The first phase of the work included a steel structural support column added to the front, new siding and new brick facade. There is also new signage and awning.

The floors were redone and epoxy coated, there was new electrical work, exterior lighting, windows, doors and the first-floor walls and stairwell were painted.

The overall effect is fresh and clean - with the fire-engine red doors standing out.

The next phase of the project will be a new roof, Herrman, said and the third phase will renovate the second floor offices of the firehouse. Those projects should start shortly, he said.

The department, led by Chief Robert Lewis, thanked the community on social media for their support - buying T-shirts, playing in and sponsoring a golf outing, and cheering the department on in competitions.

And, as always, volunteers are urged to join the department.