BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – The Town of Rockingham recently received a Vermont state Historic Preservation Grant, which will be utilized to repair the clock tower and plaster throughout the town hall building, which was built in 1926. At a recent Rockingham Selectboard meeting, it was announced that the town received the maximum amount, $20,000, allowed under the grant program.
According to the state’s Division for Historic Preservation, the funds are being used to restore old and damaged plaster throughout the 100-year-old building, including walls in the Bellows Falls Opera House, as well as the administrative, manager, and finance offices.
The plaster had been damaged over the years mostly because of leaks in the town hall roof, and a plugged or damaged roof drainage system. The roof and drainage repair work is now being completed by the Baldwinville, Mass.-based roofing company Triumph Roofing. The estimated cost will be $620,000, with the town also approving a $525,000 bond to cover most of the work.
The grant application also requested funds to repair the broken clock face, which has been stalling at various times for nearly a year. Part of the grant condition is that the town match the funds provided in the preservation grant.
Phil Davanza, who repairs historic clocks, has been contacted about doing the repair work, and the town is awaiting his availability. Davanza is also responsible for fully restoring the clock some 30 years ago, then doing a tune-up back in 2022.
Over the past decade, the town has worked very hard to successfully apply for, receive, and execute multiple state and federal grants for various restoration projects throughout the local communities, including grants for the restoration of the historic Old Rockingham Meeting House, fire station and safety improvements, restoring the historic Miss Bellows Falls Diner, repairing the roof of the Adam Grist Mill, and the complete restoration of affordable housing at the historic Garage Building, as well as other repairs involving the town hall and opera house.
Additionally, multiple local businesses and entrepreneurs have been cleaning up and refurbishing new storefront properties throughout the town, including the Little Art Supply Store, Rockingham Roasters, Studio 92, Bellows Falls Community Bike Shop, Bellows Beats, Rolling Twenties Dispensary, Boccaccio’s, Alleor Creations, 7 Balls Brewing, and Village Square Booksellers.