In addition to engineering work already planned for Lyndeborough’s Citizens’ Hall, the Center Hall is also in need of an assessment, and likely shoring up.

The Lyndeborough Heritage Commission has been meeting on the issue of how to move forward on both buildings, with the Select Board scheduled to discuss the building’s issues with Building Inspector Leo Trudeau on Wednesday.

Both buildings have historical significance to the town, with Center Hall being part of the town’s registered Historic District, and Citizens’ Hall being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The town has already launched a plan to engage in engineering services for future repairs to Citizens’ Hall, which will be on the warrant in March. An article requests a total of $10,600 for a structural design related to repairs to one of the carrying beams supporting the first floor, along with attic trusses.

Trudeau said that the beam and the trusses are currently “in no danger of failure, but need attention,” due to age and deteriorating conditions.

Trudeau said he also has concerns about some issues at the former Town Hall, also called Center Hall, though that building has not been formally assessed yet and is a step behind the process at Citizens’ Hall.

“Regarding Center Hall, it’s in the very beginning stage,” Trudeau said.

During a recent meeting of the Heritage Commission, Trudeau reported that there were concerns with the foundation, and that some of the foundation stones are “slipping,” among other issues.

“What I found is concerning,” Trudeau said. “We need to evaluate.”

Trudeau expected to re-examine the building along with a qualified engineer on Monday, prior to meeting with the Select Board on Wednesday to discuss the process of evaluating the building. 

“It’s an amazing building in its history alone, but it wasn’t correctly built,” Trudeau said of Center Hall. “It’s a challenge, and we’ll deal with it. In the end, the building will be repaired and shored up and continue to look the way it does, which is certainly my goal. I love old buildings.”

The town intends to seek grant funding for both projects, from sources such as the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, or LCHIP, and the Preservation Alliance to help offset the cost of the repairs to both buildings.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.