THE TOWN HALL WAS BUILT IN 1839 AND PURCHASED BY THE TOWN IN IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO IN 1890 AND IN 1911 IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE SECOND FLOOR WITH ITS TIN CEILING AND CHANDERLIERS FROM THE EARLY 1900’S PLEASE VISIT
THE NEED FOR TOWN OFFICES EXPANDED BETWEEN THE 1970’S -2004 BRINGING IT TO ITS CURRENT CROWDED STATE. SPACE NEEDS COMMITTEES FORMED AND CONCLUDED THAT THE TOWN NEEDED A MINIMUM OF ADDITIONAL 2500 SQUARE FEET TO ACCOMMODATE THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE TOWN
IN 2011, THE CITIZENS OF RYE VOTED TO CREATE A HERITAGE COMMISSION. ITS MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND RECOGNIZE THE TOWN’S HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND LOCATIONS. THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE UNANIMOUS IN THE SUPPORT OF RENOVATION OF THE ICONIC GREEK REVIVAL STRUCTURE IN THE CENTER OF OUR TOWN AS AN ARCHITECTURAL EMBODIMENT OF MUCH OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE TOWN.
THE COMMISSION SUPPORTED THE RENOVATION OF THE RYE TOWN HALL IN MARCH, 2015. THE ARTICLE MET ALL THE SAFETY AND SPACE NEEDS FOR THE TOWN EMPLOYEES AND COMMITTEES PLUS PRESERVED ALL OF THE HISTORICAL ELEMENTS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN HALL BUILDING. THE STRONG MESSAGE SENT BACK FROM THE VOTERS WAS 4 MILLION DOLLARS WAS MORE MONEY THAN THEY WANTED TO SPEND.
THE BUILDING IS ON THE NH DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES LIST OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES WHICH IDENTIFIES THE ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF OUR STATE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSET THREATENED BY RAPID SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TWO PLAQUES COMMEMORATING THIS TRIBUTE HANG AT THE ENTRANCES TO THE BUILDING.
THE SEVEN TO SAVE RECOGNITION OF THE RYE TOWN HALL ON OCTOBER 21, 2015 OPENED CONNECTIONS TO GRANTS WHICH COULD REDUCE THE COST OF RENOVATIONS NEEDED. MEANWHILE, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SURVEY CENTER WAS ENGAGED TO DETERMINE THE VIEWS OF THE CITIZENS THROUGH A TOWN-WIDE SURVEY WHICH RECEIVED A REMARKABLE 39% RESPONSE. THE RESULTS? TEAR IT DOWN 21% RENOVATE AND ADD ON 62% KEEP TOWN GOVERNMENT IN THE TOWN CENTER 61%
THE TALK ABOUT TEARING IT DOWN BEGAN. IT IS THE SAME VINTAGE AS THE DRAKE HOUSE ST ANDREWS THE CABLE HOUSE HOMES ON STRAWS POINT THE GARLAND TAVERN SITE A FEW DOORS DOWN FROM THE LIBRARY.
TOWN HALL IS SOUND DESPITE REPRESENTATIONS OF THOSE SEEKING TO TEAR IT DOWN. THE ENGINEERING REPORTS CONFIRM THIS. SELECTMAN MUSSELMAN ADDRESSED THE ISSUES RAISED ON MARCH 1, 2018 AT THE HERITAGE MEETING SAYING: “ THE RFP REPORT WENT THROUGH WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN…THERE WAS NOTHING IN THAT REPORT THAT INDICATES A CURRENT HEALTH HAZARD TO PEOPLE USING THIS BUILDING.” 54:02 “THERE IS NO KNOWN MOLD IN THE BUILDING.”55:14 “THE BUILDING AS IT SITS DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODES…IT DOES NOT NEED STRUCTURAL STEEL.”59:15 “THE BUILDING IS ON FIRM FOOTING. IT DOES NOT INDICATE DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT.” 1:00:33 “THE FOUNDATION LIKELY DOES NOT NEED ADDRESSING.” 1:01:10
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