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Grange Hall committee asks Select Board for engineering guidance, fundraising support
Summary
The Grange Hall Committee described the building’s historic status and urged the board to help secure engineering and funding; the committee cited a $165,000 preliminary foundation repair estimate, preservation awards and previous unsuccessful grant applications as context for pursuing matched grants and town support.
The Grange Hall Committee updated the Select Board on preservation efforts for the historic Grange Hall (built 1916) and asked the board and staff to help coordinate next steps on engineering, fundraising and grant-seeking.
Committee chair Lillian Chericella (committee members also present included Adam Lewis and Rob Terry) described recent activities: nomination to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s "7 to Save" list (designation to be announced), two declined grant applications (a CDFA application and a Moose Plate application) and work to resume limited programming (the committee launched a Coffee Connections senior program after installing an outhouse to provide restroom access).
Committee members said a 2025 placeholder estimate of $165,000 for foundation repair had been developed by the town’s public works director and a contractor and that the figure is a starting point for budget planning. Members and Select Board discussion noted that the building was stabilized this year with a new roof and that the foundation work and other repairs would be required to restore the building to usable condition for community programming. "We applied for the CDF A grant twice...we were denied...feedback was that the building didn't have programming — the building isn't usable, therefore programming is non‑existent," Chericella told the board.
Board members and committee members discussed funding avenues and the importance of concrete programming and fundraising milestones to justify larger town contributions or warrant articles. Board members described how prior projects (Wickham Hall) advanced after committees recruited fundraising and grant-writing expertise and suggested the committee broaden its membership, document a clear program vision and pursue matching grants such as LCHIP (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program) and other preservation funding.
The board offered to connect the committee to county grant-writing resources and to Public Works Director Joe D'Russo to review the contractor’s foundation assessment. Board members also suggested staging: stabilize the building, pursue targeted foundation and window repairs, and use incremental fundraising to demonstrate community support before asking taxpayers for larger sums.
Ending — The board and committee agreed to coordinate a meeting with DPW staff and the committee’s point person to review the foundation assessment, clarify the $165,000 estimate and compile a strategy that combines volunteer fundraising, small town contributions and grant applications. The committee will work on clarifying programming goals and expanding volunteer and donor outreach to build momentum for larger grants.
