By Josh O’Gorman
STAF WRITER | July 18,2013
STAF WRITER | July 18,2013
Rutland Herald
KILLINGTON — The Sherburne Historians are
looking for support from the town to restore the former teen center and
turn it into a museum.
Peggy Mowle, president of the Sherburne Historians, pitched her case to the Select Board during their meeting Monday night.
“We would like to correct the foundation this year, if possible,” Mowle told the Board. “We would like the town to help us with it. We could put it to a town vote next spring and see what the town would like to do.”
The building was built sometime in the 19th century — records are unclear regarding the exact year — in West Bridgewater. At some point during the latter half of the 20th century, the town bought the building for $10 and paid another $40 to move it to its current location, across River Road from the Sherburne Memorial Library.
The building was home to the town library, and later the Killington Teen Center, which has been inactive for at least the last three years. In 2011, flooding from Tropical Storm Irene damaged the building.
The most immediate concern is the state of the foundation, which is cracked and takes on water flowing down the hill behind it. A report from the McKernon Group — a construction company based in Brandon — estimated the cost to repair the foundation at $24,000.
The town has $10,000 left in flood insurance money from Tropical Storm Irene, which must be spent this year. By coincidence, the town has received an estimate of $10,000 to demolish the building, a move not supported by Select Board Chairman Chris Bianchi, who said he would prefer to use the remaining insurance money to repair the structure.
He also supported the idea of putting the issue to voters during town meeting in March.
“I would support putting an article on the ballot asking voters to spend money on the building and see if they want to do it,” Bianchi said.
In the short term, Mowle asked if the town’s maintenance crew could use its personnel and equipment to cut drains into the earth around the building to mitigate flooding.
Chet Hagenbarth, director of the town’s highway and facilities department, said his crew is up to the job.
“Spending a few days putting in a drain would not be a huge issue,” Hagenbarth said.
josh.ogorman
@rutlandherald.com
Peggy Mowle, president of the Sherburne Historians, pitched her case to the Select Board during their meeting Monday night.
“We would like to correct the foundation this year, if possible,” Mowle told the Board. “We would like the town to help us with it. We could put it to a town vote next spring and see what the town would like to do.”
The building was built sometime in the 19th century — records are unclear regarding the exact year — in West Bridgewater. At some point during the latter half of the 20th century, the town bought the building for $10 and paid another $40 to move it to its current location, across River Road from the Sherburne Memorial Library.
The building was home to the town library, and later the Killington Teen Center, which has been inactive for at least the last three years. In 2011, flooding from Tropical Storm Irene damaged the building.
The most immediate concern is the state of the foundation, which is cracked and takes on water flowing down the hill behind it. A report from the McKernon Group — a construction company based in Brandon — estimated the cost to repair the foundation at $24,000.
The town has $10,000 left in flood insurance money from Tropical Storm Irene, which must be spent this year. By coincidence, the town has received an estimate of $10,000 to demolish the building, a move not supported by Select Board Chairman Chris Bianchi, who said he would prefer to use the remaining insurance money to repair the structure.
He also supported the idea of putting the issue to voters during town meeting in March.
“I would support putting an article on the ballot asking voters to spend money on the building and see if they want to do it,” Bianchi said.
In the short term, Mowle asked if the town’s maintenance crew could use its personnel and equipment to cut drains into the earth around the building to mitigate flooding.
Chet Hagenbarth, director of the town’s highway and facilities department, said his crew is up to the job.
“Spending a few days putting in a drain would not be a huge issue,” Hagenbarth said.
josh.ogorman
@rutlandherald.com
Comment: This is very interesting. Earlier in the year the Historical Society stated it would find other means than taxpayer money to fund the rehab of this building. Now the town is going to spend a few days of the road crew (which is already asking for overbudget money for several projects)putting a bandaid on the property and have a referendum on whether the town should take on the additional costs of the rehab.
The historical society has been offered space in Bill's Country Store for their needs yet insists on putting this is front of the voters.
Is there anyone around who went to this schollhouse. Why is there no more than cursory provenance on this building? What is its claim to fame beyond its decreptitude? What is its historical significance?
If I remember correctly initial estimates of the total rehab was in the hundreds of thousands. Is it really worth it or are political settlements being made from the last election?
Vito
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