When Donald Matheson tells you a new fire station for the Liberty community has been a long time coming, he’s not kidding.

It was 35 years ago when volunteers like Matheson got together and built a station at the intersection of Hwy. 53 and War Hill Park Road.

On Sept. 7, Matheson and others from the Liberty community were in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new and improved Station No. 2, which sits just miles from the original location.

“It was a true community effort,” said Matheson following the ceremony. “It wouldn’t have been possible without everybody’s help.”

Billy Thurmond, director of emergency services, agreed.

“When you build a facility like this one, it takes a lot of people working together,” Thurmond said. “It takes a lot of teamwork.”

Thurmond spoke to a crowd of more than 50 in attendance at the new building, which will also house a sheriff’s office precinct and tax commissioner’s annex and tag office to serve eastern Dawson County.

Station No. 2 is the primary responder for the Ga. 400 corridor. The new station will operate with both full time and volunteer personnel.

Thurmond said the county’s full time staff that currently operate from Station No. 3 on Harmony Church Road will move to the new station. The Harmony Church Road station will become an all-volunteer station.

Matheson said he’s glad to see the new location.

“It looks nice,” he said. “We’re glad to be here today and see this.”