Old Firehouse Building

The Old Firehouse Building is a two-story brick building constructed circa 1930, with a 1957 addition built to match the architectural style of the original edifice. After several decades of use, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company relocated its headquarters from this property to a new location. In 2019, the Chincoteague Town Council voted to purchase the property, with plans for an adaptive reuse project. Design ideas for the restoration of the building include a mixed-use space with a brewery or restaurant on the ground floor and loft style apartments above. Beyond its former use as the headquarters of the local Fire Co., the Old Firehouse Building served another important role in the history of Chincoteague: it provided a temporary shelter for local residents during the devastating 1962 Ash Wednesday Storm, which flooded the island for three consecutive days.

In 2019, members of the Chincoteague Town Council voted to purchase the Old Firehouse Building, a two-story brick structure constructed circa 1930 in downtown Chincoteague. (A brick addition, which was constructed in 1957, matched the architectural style of the original building while also doubling the square footage). After several decades of use by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, the local Fire Co. ceased its use of the building when it relocated to a new headquarters on Deep Hole Road.

The Chincoteague Town Council's approval to purchase the Old Firehouse Building was accompanied by a public survey regarding ideas for the restoration of the building with funding assistance from grants. Thus far, renovation design ideas have included the construction of a ground-floor restaurant, brewery, or wedding venue, along with loft style apartments on the second floor of the building, which features large windows overlooking Main Street.

In addition to its original function as the headquarters of the Volunteer Fire Co., the Old Firehouse Building once served another historic role in Chincoteague. It was a key place of refuge for local residents during the infamous weather event known as the 1962 Ash Wednesday Storm, which wreaked havoc on Chincoteague. After the storm flooded the island, seawater lingered over the land throughout the next five successive high tides during a period of three days. Amidst this ordeal, the firehouse provided a much-needed temporary shelter for people whose homes and businesses were threatened or destroyed by the storm and subsequent flooding.

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CHESAPEAKE HISTORY: THE ASH WEDNESDAY STORM OF 1962, PropTalk. Accessed March 18th 2022. https://www.proptalk.com/ash-wednesday-storm-1962.

Hays, Jakon and Maureen Watts. March 1962 | Ash Wednesday Storm photo album, The Virginia Pilot. March 7th 2016. Accessed March 18th 2022. https://www.pilotonline.com/history/article_f1d0f404-7bbc-59cf-896b-4580d1d25719.html.

Panetta, Kyleigh. Chincoteague revitalizing historic firehouse, asking for input, Wmdt. May 11th 2020. Accessed March 18th 2022. https://www.wmdt.com/2020/05/chincoteague-revitalizing-historic-firehouse-asking-for-input/.