Center Meeting House

The Center Meeting House Board of Directors met on the evening of June 30, 2010 at the town offices and concluded that there is a good chance that the major restoration elements will likely be completed around Labor Day.  The scaffolding for the interior plaster work is completely installed and as of today, July 1, 2010, the ceiling plaster board work is almost completed.  I may have the terminology a little wrong, but this is the board that the final plaster will be attached to.

And speaking of good news, if you are one of those people who has been yearning for the day that the plywood covers would be off the CMH windows, here is a picture of the building that I took this morning at around 10 am.  The workers at the site told me that the plywood is off the windows for good!

What that says to me is that we really need to be aggressive in our completion of the fundraising element of this project as well as the restoration phase.  It is impossible to explain how amazing the support of our community has been in bringing us this far.  For a project that was not supposed to cost much more than $500,000 and take much more than a couple of years, this whole thing has been a stretch, driven by the uncovering of more and more surprises as various parts of the building were examined carefully.

For more detailed information on the Hidden Secrets of the Center Meeting House, come out to our Annual Meeting on July 25th at 2 pm at the town offices.  Following a brief business meeting, Rick Monahon, our historical architect, will show pictures and give descriptions of some of the trials and tribulations that came as a result of studying the building's foundation or opening up the interior of the building to see what was really behind the plaster.

And if you're into celebrations, come on out to the buffet dinner at Mount Sunapee on Friday, July 9, 2010 at 5 pm.  The food has been improved again this year and the cost is only $35 per person.  If all else fails, come and hear the New England Brass performing under the big top right outside the Spruce Lodge at the mountain.  It's free for everyone and we are expecting an outstanding performance from these world renowned Boston musicians.

Coach Lombardi always said to "Celebrate after victory!"  The CMH is not physically finished yet, but the end is in sight!  It is hard not to take a little bit of pleasure in seeing completion as a distinct possibility. 

Thank you to all of our supporters!  You've been patient AND generous!

Doug Whelan