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The Trappe Volunteer Firehouse was completed in 1951 and has not been updated since. “We probably have the oldest one in the county,� Assistant Secretary Treasurer of the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company Cheryl Lewis said.

Lewis said a new firehouse is necessary because the current building is no longer suitable for the modern equipment.

Because Trappe has a volunteer fire company, like many towns on the Eastern Shore, projects like this rely heavily on government and local support, Lewis said.

“We’ve been in the process of trying to get assistance,� Lewis said. “In the last budget year, the federal budget that was just approved, we had successfully worked with Andy Harris’s office to be included in the budget. But with the cuts that were done early on this year, it was removed.�

Harris said the appropriations bill to provide funding for the project failed due to negotiations in Congress leading to a continued delay, but she said the project has been reapplied for in the current year’s legislation.

“We hope the appropriations process has a better outcome, but then that’s not up to us because it involves the minority party as well,� he said in an interview with the Star Democrat.

In order to qualify for federal grants, the company must match 25% of the projected project cost of $6 million. The company set a goal of $1,500,000 and set aside $450,000 to begin the efforts.

Fundraising efforts include The Trappe Volunteer Fire Company’s upcoming annual fair, held on July 31 through Aug. 2 at the firehouse. The event begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. each day and will include fire truck rides, hay rides, food, games and prizes, and live entertainment, according to the fire company’s Facebook page. Saturday’s event will open with a parade.

Harris said the outcome of federal funding depends on the successful bipartisan negotiations in Congress to pass this version of the appropriations bill.

“In the end, this is going to depend on the minority party. And you know, if they’re not willing to negotiate in good faith, that could end up being a problem,� Harris said. “The people in Trappe have to know that their member of Congress was working hard to get that money to the fire company.�