CHICORA — If bricks and mortar could talk, the Chicora Area Sewer Authority's soon-to-be new home would tell six decades of stories bookended by tales of volunteerism.

Known locally as “the old firehouse,” the circa-1930s brick structure in the heart of the borough first served as home to the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department.

Having been dark for years, it took a six-month effort by more than 15 volunteers — half of whom don't even get service from the nonprofit sewer authority — to give the building its new purpose.

The sewer authority will begin doing its business there Nov. 1.

“It's simply unbelievable the work that these guys put in, and they did it all for the betterment of the community,” said authority board member Fred Callihan of Fairview Township. “They probably did a $30,000 job.”

Callihan said the project was initiated by a different turn of history: John Graham, who has been the authority's manager since the day it was created in 1992, announced his plans to retire June 1, 2013.

“I did my job and it's time to go,” Graham said.

The impending retirement not only precipitated the hiring of Adam Hartwig as his replacement, but also the need for a new location. Authority business has always been run out of Graham's home.

In a building, the authority was looking for a one-story location, convenient to customers with ample parking.

The authority charges its 548 customers only to reimburse its costs. So keeping the new location's bill to a minimum was high on the priority list, Callihan said.

The old firehouse fit the needs, but was in need of much repair.

It was built only to fill its original intention — house equipment — and had not been upgraded much in the nearly eight decades since.

The structure, located behind District Judge Lewis Stoughton's office, was built to hold one fire truck in 1934. In the 1960s, the department added space for three more vehicle stalls.

But the fire department moved to its new location on West Slippery Rock Street in 2002. Current Chief Jason Miller said the department relocated because the old building did not have the space and amenities necessary for modern equipment. The old building is owned by the borough and the fire department no longer has any ties to it.

In the decade since the move, the building was rented by a private antique business for a time and then remained empty for years.

The sewer authority intends to occupy only the first floor, a 1,000- square-foot portion of the building that was constructed as the original fire station.

Borough council gave the sewer authority the go-ahead at its April meeting. But the approval did not come unanimously. The idea passed on a 3-2 vote with council president William Clingensmith casting the deciding vote. Clingensmith could not be reached for comment.

The borough contributed $8,000 to the upgrade with the condition the renovation include space for the borough secretary to work. However, that change will not take place until current secretary Donna Callihan, who has traditionally run borough business from her home, retires.

Callihan said she thinks the authority did a wonderful job on the renovation, but she's not interested in moving her office. And, she said, she has no immediate plans for retirement.

The authority contributed $4,000 to the upgrade. And volunteers from around the community contributed six months of time, effort and supplies.

First, bricklayer Tom Knoll of Fairview Township reduced the fire-truck-sized garage door to a wall with a regular door.

Then, other volunteers rewired, rewalled, painted and carpeted the inside and outside of the building over a course of months. They etched out a small office space, an employee lunchroom and bathroom and added Internet access, oak cabinetry and a furnace to keep the place warm.

Architect Karen Mortland of Chicora designed the upgrades' look.

Desks were donated by Westminster Presbyterian Church in Butler.

Local merchants, including Parker's Plumbing, Parker's Appliance and Walton Furniture, made donations or gave price breaks to the project.

The final touch, a sign with the authority's name on it, is yet to come.

Customers will get notice of the new location in their October bills. And they are invited to visit during office hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a mail slot in the front door for off-hour payments.

However, customer who mail their bills should continue to use the same address as always, P.O. Box 35. The new office telephone number is 724-445-0150.

The second floor of the building, used temporarily by borough council in the past, remains unused.