The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) has donated the 6,590-square-foot fire station building and its 2.88 acres of land to the Herculaneum Fire Department. The building and land have an appraised value of $1.3 million dollars. The company also donated three parcels of land adjacent to the Herculaneum American Veterans (AMVETS) Post MO-0042 to the organization. The total value of the 0.81 acres of land is $40,000.  

Doe Run originally donated the $750,000 needed to construct the fire station on Doe Run property in 2007. The building has five apparatus and equipment bays, training and conference room space, weight training and shower facilities, separate communication and fire chief offices, and a bunk room for 24-hour, on-site staffing. In 2009, Doe Run donated property for a new bridge over Joachim Creek (completed in 2012) that further enhanced the strategic location of the fire station by providing quick access to the south side of the town. 

“Doe Run’s donations have been a tremendous asset to the fire department over the years,” said Herculaneum Fire Chief Kevin Baker. “This station opened in 2008 and was leased to the fire department at a very modest cost for the last 10 years. With this donation, we now will have the infrastructure and collateral necessary to finance the equipment or improvements the fire department may need. We greatly appreciate the relationship we have had for decades with Doe Run.” 

Chief Baker is the only paid employee of the department. He oversees a fully volunteer staff. 

Additionally, Doe Run donated three land parcels to Herculaneum’s AMVETS organization. The properties are located adjacent to the AMVETS building along Brown Street. 

 “This donation will allow us to relocate the organization to a higher elevation and protect our assets,” stated Ray Choate, second vice commander of the AMVETS Post #42. “We appreciate Doe Run’s support and generosity, which help enable us to concentrate our efforts on helping veterans.” 

“We continue our efforts to repurpose our property in Herculaneum,” stated Chris Neaville, Doe Run’s asset development director. “These donations provide value to the community and enable the fire department and AMVETS to best plan for their future. Our other efforts include repurposing the smelter site to make this property ready for future development. With easy access to rail, river barges and Interstate 55, the area has a lot of potential for manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and distribution.”

About The Doe Run Company

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and a global provider of lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling centers, located in Boss, Missouri, and mines from one of the world’s largest lead mining districts, also in Missouri. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit www.doerun.com and sustainability.doerun.com.

About AMVETS

The McDowell Memorial AMVETS Post #42 was organized in Herculaneum in 1954. AMVETS (American Veterans) is the nation’s most inclusive Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, representing the interests of 20 million veterans. AMVETS is open to and fighting for all who honorably served in the United States military, including the Reserve and Guard. With more than 250,000 members nationwide, we are veterans serving veterans.

###