Renovations beginning at Mason Town Hall

The long-awaited redevelopment of Mason Town Hall is happening.

The registered historical building on Darling Hill Road hasn’t seen major renovations since being erected in 1848, until now. Developers and members of the Mason Town Hall Renovation Committee are working on reinstalling the drainage systems that run beneath the building. During floods and major rainfall, water flows into the basement through holes alongside the edges of the town hall, causing severe damage to the building’s structure. 

In March 2018, town voters approved an assessment of the building to decide on what major changes needed to be made to the town hall. According to Building and Grounds Manager Wallace Brown and Renovation Committee member Barbara DeVore, drainage, flooring and roofing issues in the building could cost the town an estimated minimum of $300,000 to fix. 

Brown is a fifth-generation Mason resident whose family has lived in the town since the 1820s. Wallace said rebuilding Town Hall is crucial to the community.

“It is the center for our town meetings and voting and always has been,” said Wallace.

Since 2018, the Renovation Committee has been raising money to finance the project. DeVore said the community is relying on help from donors to restore Town Hall.

“The taxpayers can’t pay to have this done,” said DeVore. “We are having to raise money and find grants.”

So far, the committee has raised more than $40,000 from donations and state grants, including $8,000 from community members on Old Home Day, $10,000 from the NH Conservation License Plate Program and an anonymous donation of $25,000.

DeVore said despite the donations, the estimated 10-year project is far from over.

“Its a very significant project for a small town,” she said.