PIERCE’S HALL RECEIVES GRANT FOR A NEW ROOF
by Anne Kerrey
EAST PUTNEY–Pierce’s Hall, a favorite venue of contra dancers and bands for the last 35 years, has passed a milestone on its path toward a new roof in the New Year. The Vermont Division of Historic Preservation has awarded the Putney Historical Society the full $12,500 that it and the East Putney Community Club requested to save the historic East Putney community building, built in 1832 as a Methodist meeting house. This state grant will provide half of the amount needed for a new standing seam metal roof for Pierce’s Hall.
“We are so pleased to be able to help the East Putney Community Club preserve this wonderful, historic meeting house, built of bricks made right along East Putney Brook,” said Stuart Strothman, president of the Putney Historical Society. “There are few such places that carry on the important Vermont tradition of contra dance.”
The Pierce’s Hall roof began leaking two years ago. At the request of the Putney Historical Society, contractor Scott Henry patched the leak for free. But last summer the other side of the roof began leaking. Following a preliminary pro-bono evaluation of the building in September, architect Jeremy Coleman reported that the leaking roof threatened the Hall with eventual failure. Confronted with the inevitable loss of the Hall if no action were taken, residents, musicians, and contra-dancers pooled donations and made bridge loans to meet an October 6 deadline for raising matching funds, in order to apply for the state’s historic preservation grant. The area’s legislative delegation– Representatives Mrowicki and Deen and Senators Shumlin and White– provided letters of support.
The Division of Historic Preservation received 43 applications for funding. Pierce’s Hall and 14 others were awarded grants. “We are honored and extremely grateful that the State has recognized Pierce’s Hall’s historic value, as well as its continuing importance as a center of community. This grant gives us a
huge boost in our effort to physically revitalize the hall,” said Abraham Noe-Hays, organizer of the monthly contra dances, and member of the East Putney Community Club which owns Pierce’s Hall and holds potlucks and other community events there.
With the historic preservation grant in hand, fundraising is far from over, with the next task in front of the Putney Historical Society and the East Putney Community Club being to raise money to pay back six large bridge loans, (made to meet the state’s October deadline for matching funds,) so that construction can begin in the spring. They are also seeking an additional $4,000 for structural repairs related to the roof. A grant proposal for a portion of this money is under consideration by the Windham Foundation, and the Putney Historical Society is accepting individual donations from community members. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but the state grant has given us great momentum, and I think we can raise the rest of the funds we need,” said Ann Kerrey of the East Putney Community Club.
Currently, the leaky roof is stabilized by two large tarps, one of which was donated by Chroma Technology Corp, of Rockingham, and the other by Mark Bowen. Mark Bowen, John Caviola, Paul McTaggert, Abe Noe-Hays and Harry Brauser put up the tarps in freezing weather on November 22, with coordination and refreshments provided by Ann Kerry. The tarps, which cover the entire roof, are still up in spite of the ice storm.
Tax deductible contributions to the Pierce’s Hall roof replacement fund can be sent to The Putney Historical Society, PO Box 233, Putney 05346, Attention: Stuart Strothman. Checks should be made out to the Putney Historical Society with “Pierce’s Hall” on the memo line. The Putney Historical Society is also collecting funds to save Putney’s General Store. Pierce’s Hall is available for rent to community members for public and private events, and is the site of Putney’s monthly contra dance, on the last Saturday of every month.
