Repairs set to begin at Woody Winfree Fire-Transportation Museum

The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County and the Local Development Corporation (LDC) have announced that long-awaited repairs will soon begin at the Woody Winfree Fire-Transportation Museum, located at 310 East 9th Street.

The former Central Fire Station, which housed Hopkinsville’s fire department from 1905 to 1964, was transformed into the Woody Winfree Museum in 2008. On March 31, 2023, the historic structure sustained heavy damage from straight-line winds during a powerful storm. The south and east facades, along with two faces of the town clock, were significantly damaged.

Reconstruction is set to begin this month after the LDC reached a settlement with insurance earlier this year, according to a news release. Restoration of the town clock will follow soon after. The project team includes REB Architects from Nicholasville and C&C Contracting from Russellville, both of which have experience with historic preservation projects, including the rehabilitation of the Pennyroyal Area Museum in 2019–2020.

Planned work will focus on maintaining both the structural soundness and historic integrity of the building. This includes rebuilding the south and east facades, reconstructing the south parapet, replacing a steel lintel and repairing or replacing damaged windows.

In the news release, LDC and Museum officials say they are committed to preserving the historic building and ensuring it continues to serve as a vital piece of downtown Hopkinsville.