Save Sangerville Town Hall
To the Editor;
During recent meetings, the select board of Sangerville has discussed the possibility of giving up on the historic town hall in favor of building a new, smaller facility for town government. It seems that the present town hall is in need of extensive repairs which will be costly for the residents. While the board is to be complimented on their efforts to save money for the citizens of Sangerville, the bottom dollar should not always be the driving force behind a decision of this magnitude. There are other perspectives about the town hall and its future that should be explored.
To that end the warrant for the upcoming town meeting (6 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at the Grace Bible Church) includes an article to invite discussion about the future of the town hall. The Sangerville Historical Society is very concerned about the fate of the town hall and is urging the citizens of Sangerville to attend the town meeting to help save the hall as a visible resource that represents the heart of Sangerville.
The character and future possibilities of any town rests with its existing assets. Sangerville presently possesses many points of value, including the beauty of its landscape and the willingness of its people to rally for worthy causes. Another strong town asset is the prominent architectural jewel of the town: the impressive town hall. Since its construction in 1902, the town hall has served as a hub for Sangerville. It houses not only the town office, but a frequently used Community Room and the public library. The upstairs has a large, unused performance area which could be revitalized. Many people remember when the space was the gathering place for weekly Bingo games sponsored by the fire department and the location of the annual town meeting.
The town hall is a historic asset that reflects the rich history of the town. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991, recognizing its unique design of Colonial Revival architecture, artfully blended with the ornate beauty of Queen Anne design. The stained glass of the upper levels complements the arched front portico and grand Palladian window above the front entrance. The residents of Sangerville are very fortunate to have such a grand building that is unlike any town hall in the region.
The Sangerville select board’s thoughts of abandoning the town hall in favor of a standard, nondescript structure to house the town office dismiss the value of the existing town hall. It is the touchstone of identity for the town. Sangerville’s health has been in a slow downward spiral in recent years, mostly due to factors that have been out of the hands of the residents. The town has experienced the closing of the Abbie Fowler School, Masonic Lodge, American Legion Hall, Catholic Church and the Village Restaurant. The vitality of the town has been whittled away by circumstances beyond its control. The fate of the town hall, however, is one decision that is in the hands of the people. They can prevent the continued erosion of the town’s identity by saving the hall as a valued, municipal structure and architectural gem.
The Sangerville Historical Society is in favor of saving the present hall as the seat of town government and community gathering. This isn’t the first time that the town hall has been in jeopardy of being abandoned. In the early 1990s, the town’s people recognized the value of keeping the hall and voted to do what was needed to restore the building. It is time to save the town hall again. It is the symbol of who we are and what we value.
Please plan to attend the Sangerville town meeting and add your voice in support of keeping the town hall. The town deserves to be more than a “drive-through” location without distinction. The existing town hall can and should serve as a central feature that not only continues to serve the citizens of the town as a civic building, but encourage people to slow down and appreciate Sangerville. The heart of Sangerville is at stake.
The Sangerville Historical Society