Resident proposes naming rooms, plaques and school involvement for new town hall

A Hamlin resident proposed on Sept. 15 that the town use the new town hall to honor longtime residents with plaques, photographs and room names, and suggested involving the historical society and local schools in the project. The proposal, presented by Richard, said the historical society had endorsed the idea and that volunteers could hang photos and create engraved plaques at low cost; he also offered to volunteer his engraving services. Board members responded positively and encouraged him to “keep fleshing that out,” but did not take a formal vote or allocate funding. Richard told the Select Board and Board of Health that the idea grew from his interest in using the new town hall as “not only the center of government, but as a place where people can learn about how Hamlin got to be what it is today.” He said the historical society has “a bunch of pictures sitting in a closet” that could be displayed in hallways, that schoolchildren could write short essays to accompany displays, and that he would volunteer to produce laser-engraved nameplates if needed. He said, “I would volunteer my services,” and later said he might return seeking “a couple of $100 to help with supplies.” Board members thanked Richard and suggested reaching out to the historic commission; one board member specifically recommended contacting Connie Witt of the Historic Commission. The board characterized the timing as appropriate with the town's 150th coming up but made no formal commitment or motion to adopt the proposal. The discussion included recollections of former local figures, including Sherwood Kronk, cited by Richard as an example of a town resident who might be remembered in displays. Richard also suggested a fundraising idea tied to the 150th: a Hamlin-themed coloring book that he said he can produce from photographs and that could involve children and local printing support. Next steps discussed were continuing to develop the concept, consulting the historic commission and the historical society for content and sources, and returning to the board if and when the organizers sought modest funding. No formal action, appropriation or naming decision was made at the Sept. 15 meeting.