"Open the Ballroom"

Help us Open Centennial Hall’s Ballroom

Having completed a professional building assessment, in 2018 we launched a multi-year revitalization effort on two tracks, Rehabilitation and Access Improvement. Open the Ballroom is our most ambitious revitalization effort to date, and was underwritten in part by a matching grant awarded by the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and as a cultural resource in the town’s master plan, Centennial Hall’s long term survival depends on its renewed vitality as a community gathering place. But at present, since activities are restricted to the basement and first floor, rental and use opportunities are severely limited. Restored access to the grand ballroom, with its 225-person capacity, will provide the public space needed in allowing Centennial Hall to become of even more service and value to our communities.

Follow Our Progress

Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far with your help…

In 2018 our Open the Ballroom campaign received an LCHIP grant of $200,000, one of the largest grants given in a very competitive cycle. That grant was matched in three months and work on phase 1 of restoration began in the summer of 2019. The recent imprimaturs of our National Registry Listing and LCHIP funding had at last positioned us to do the major rehabilitation and access work we have dreamed of for decades: replacement of the slate roof, installation of two levels of snow fencing and copper flashing. Rebuilding of the chimney and flue, restoration to 44 windows original to the building, clapboard, trim and decorative molding sanded, repaired and repainted.

Having completed Phase 1 ahead of schedule in 2020 we moved solidly into Phase 2 of our rehabilitation, with the installation of a full building sprinkler system, new boiler and oil tanks. Heat is operational on the second floor. Now our goal: to Open the Ballroom.

But before we can utilize the second floor event space, there is more work to be done and funds to be raised. Once we are able to finish the second floor and close out Phase 2 of the rehabilitation, we can begin Phase 3: construction to house the new elevator.

Thanks to help from LCHIP and our generous donors, we hope to Open the Ballroom for events again in the near future!

Exterior

• New 4,200 sq. ft. copper and slate roof
• Restoration of ventilator turbines
• Installation of two levels of snow fencing
• Installation of new chimney and flu
• Repair of exterior trim, decorative molding and 40% of exterior clapboard
• Installation of keyless entry
• Reconstruction and paint of front entry steps
• Reconstruction and paint of parking lot steps
• Repainting of 8,400 sq. ft. exterior building and cupola
• New Hardscape / Landscape along the side of the building