Hubbardston accepts First Parish Unitarian Church gift after extended public debate over costs and stewardship

Hubbardston voters approved an article authorizing the select board to acquire the First Parish Unitarian Church property at 2 Main Street by gift, purchase or eminent domain and to accept a preservation restriction, the moderator announced after a voice/vote at the town meeting.

The motion to accept the building was moved and seconded from the floor and carried by the meeting. The town administrator told the meeting the parish plans to gift approximately $25,000 to the town after outstanding bills are settled.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment. Supporters described the 18th‑century meeting house as a community landmark and urged the town to preserve it. Opponents and several speakers warned the cost of restoring and adapting the building could be substantially higher than preliminary estimates and pressed for clear protections on donated funds.

Why it matters: The meeting house sits on the town common and has historical and civic value…