Center Meeting House

At its regular August monthly meeting, held in the Newbury Town Offices, the Center Meeting House Board of Directors voted to authorize the restoration and reinstallation of the Bell Tower atop the partially restored building.  Ever since the new organization was established in 2005, this has been a major goal of the board and its Fundraising and Architecture & Restoration Committees.  Dan Wolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors, chaired the meeting and was enthusiastic in endorsing the plan to move forward.

Prior to the vote, Doug Whelan who is the board’s Fundraising Chairman had reported on progress in raising the necessary funds.  Early in the month of August it became clear that the Historic Homes Tour and its pre-tour Gala were going to be successes both financially and culturally.  Other fundraising activities such as the sale of pew sponsorships and support from major donors indicated that the time is right.  A restored and newly uplifted Bell Tower on the CMH will surely fit right in with our newly beautified town. 

Gloria Whelan, CMH Events Chair and co-chair of this event along with Diana Morris, would again like to thank everyone who made the Homes Tour such a success.  Some people have said that this was the biggest event of its kind in the history of Newbury.  The Navy Band Concert and the Gala and Historic Home Tour together attracted the support and involvement of over 1,000 different people this summer.  For a town of about 2,300 people this is an amazing show of support and affection for both our town and its central architectural and social focal point, the Meeting House.