The Ironton Rail Trail Oversight Commission will undertake a project to replace the metal roof on the first organized firehouse located along the IRT in the 110-acre Whitehall Parkway. Built in 1891, the mortar limestone structure consists of two archways for the engine bay and a box entryway for the storage and horse stable portion of the building.

The roof design is best described as King Tie Rod, transferring the partial load being applied to the horizontal beam from the diagonal roof trusses, and transfers back into the A frame of the structure and out the wall ring beam. This novel design acts to resist spread of the shallow A-frame roof and allows for a much wider span, wall to wall using a lighter weight beam.

The firehouse served all the American Cement Company mills — Egypt: 1884; Pennsylvania: 1890; Columbia: 1892; Giant: 1894; and Central: 1903. The firehouse once housed two chemical engines and a horse-drawn Silsby steam engine. Evidence of the grooves in the slab floor mark where the engine wheels rested. Directly above sits a metal smokestack, as a small fire was always brewing the steam engine for immediate response.

Spearheading the project are IRT members Ray Bieak and Ray Deutsch, along with support of Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners Vice President Jeff Warren.

The IRT has received wide recognition for having a beautiful, well-maintained trail for all its users. Over the 9-mile trail, users, especially newcomers, view 23 historic kiosks with photos and narratives of the detailed history of the start of the Ironton Railroad, the building of the town of Ironton and the 12 cement mills and iron companies that were present along the trail. However, very few actual ruins are left along the trail. The IRT pushed to preserve and repurpose the two remaining structures in the Whitehall area, namely the 1891 firehouse and the 1892 bag house next to it. This was the thrust that motivated the IRT Oversight Commission to restore the firehouse. This project has the support of Whitehall Historical Preservation Society and Karen Gensey, township historian.

Warren is a strong proponent of historic preservation and feels we should honor the passion of the IRT members and countless volunteer hours they have contributed and will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the IRT in 2026.

The Whitehall Township Recreation Commission contributed funds collected from developers as recreational impact fees to remove dead and unwanted trees from the perimeter of the building, a task performed by Witts Tree Service. The IRT is funding the design and roof replacement. Engineering design plans are being prepared by Chris Blechschmidt, of Lock Ridge Engineering, and the roof replacement will be performed by James Hale Construction. While under contract, each firm has contributed additional time toward the project, for which the IRT is very appreciative of their service to the community. The IRT is also appreciative of the efforts of Lock Ridge Engineering and James Hale Construction, both of which have experience and a passion for historic preservation. Gensey and the WHPS provided research support.

Currently, the building is utilized as a lower parkway staging area and shelter for the annual Haunted Hayride in the Parkway. The goal is to keep it as a safe, open-air facility for continued use that may extend to small gatherings of the Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council in support of environmental education opportunities.

The parkway contains a network of hiking trails that connects to the popular IRT, which draws 230,000 visitors annually.

The IRT Oversight Commission is a volunteer organization that raises funds through memberships and trail races. Residents or business members of the community who wish to donate to the IRT mission should visit irontonrailtrail.org/membership.html.