COMMUNITY HALL, WEST PELHAM
Compiled for: PELHAM CONCERNED CITIZENS
By -- Robert Lord Keyes
A NEW BEGINNING - COMMUNITY HALL
In the year 2002, Pelham's only remaining one room schoolhouse, the Town's Community Hall, stood vacant. After years of neglect, the building was beginning to exhibit extreme signs of deterioration. It was then that a grassroots group of individuals rallied to save the historic Pelham landmark.
At the request of the Board of Selectmen, a public gathering was held at Community Hall. With standing room only, Town residents rallied their support for the restoration of the building. Forthright, the Town appointed a five member Committee to act on this concern. Their mission would be to raise private monies, restore and re-establish the building.
The interior/exterior renovation of the building has been continuous since 2002. The project has received the un-wavering support of the Pelham Historical Society and the Pelham Historical Commission as well.
Two very successful Capital Campaigns were undertaken ..... one in 2003 and another in 2007. The significance of Community Hall was manifested by the generosity materialized in both Campaigns. To this date, the Town of Pelham has not been a part of the funding for the project. All building materials used for the renovation of the building have been entirely funded with private contributions. Subsequently, these materials were used for rehabilitating the building with the volunteer labor of many local craftsmen ..... carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, masons and roofers.
Significant issues addressed are as follows .... building insulation, replacement of various sills, exterior walls, siding, windows, floors and interior doors. Appropriate cabinetry, three bay stainless steel sink, refrigerator, stove with exhaust hood, countertop, electrical fixtures and flooring are all necessary components of a fully working kitchen. Both the interior and exterior of the building have been painted. All of the original trim and wainscoting in the large meeting room has been meticulously refinished.
Perhaps never before in the Town's history has "COMMUNITY SPIRIT" been evidenced as forcefully and eloquently as it has with the restoration of this humble piece of Pelham's history.