[MassHistPres] town hall in Westminster

[Betsy Hannula]

Thank you to everyone who replied with information, encouragement, and ideas in my effort to persuade the voters in Westminster to save our town hall.  We won!  Our meeting started on Saturday at 1 pm.  It was approaching 6 pm and we were on article #23 and the town hall article was #35.  Someone requested the town hall article be moved up (we were going to have to postpone the meeting to the following Sat. anyway), and so we began the article at 5:50 pm.  The Selectmen obviously don't have their fingers on the pulse of the people - and they don't have all the facts.  The chair said, " We just can't go around saving every old building in town."  (We only have 3!!!!  town hall - 1839, the library - 1901, a school - 1912).  
I had created a picture-packed power point presentation and showed public buildings that are now gone from fire, etc. and photos of multiple uses of the town hall through the years, and ended with other renovated town halls that I had visited (8 of them - the rest suggested to me will have to wait until the next stage of the process).  
When the vote was taken, the show of hands was about 150 for saving the building, and about 20 for taking it down.  The newspaper reported that it was the only applause in the five - hour meeting.
Thanks again!
 
 Betsy Hannula
68 Harrington Road
Westminster, MA 01473


Tel. 978-874-0430