Homecoming open house shows Central Hall progress

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — With many current and former residents of the community in town for the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming celebration, the Friends of Central Hall and the Board of Highlands at Central Hall welcomed the public to see the latest developments on the historic building.

    With internal construction ongoing much of Central Hall was fenced off, but during the day on Aug. 3 those stopping by could see stripped down walls and vast scaffolding on the upper floor as well as learn about the project — much of the work is being paid for via grants and various fund-raising efforts — to restore the late 1800s-era building for the 21st century.

    Information presented on Aug. 3, through a PowerPoint and displays with historic photos, explained that the first floor of Central Hall will become The Commons at Central Hall, a proposed senior and multigenerational community center. The Commons at Central Hall is intended to serve all ages as a location for community agencies, programs and services. Some of the possibilities for this space include multigenerational mentoring and health promotion for all ages.
    The Commons at Central Hall will include a meeting space, as well as a full kitchen. Under the current timeline the first floor will open in 2015, and the year after will be the start of an adult day services center.

Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom

   OPEN WALLS AT OPEN HOUSE — The public was invited to see the current state of the re-construction of Central Hall on Aug. 3 during the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming. Much of the interior has been stripped to the beams and frames to clean up the asbestos and lead paint. The plan is to convert the upper floor into an events center while the lower floor will become The Commons at Central Hall — a senior and multigenerational community center.

    A walk up the stairs led to the second floor of Central Hall, which like the staircase walls had the beams and frames visible as asbestos and lead paint have been removed. The upper floor is deemed the “sustainability” component of the renovation project, as once again the space will house a number of events. The upper floor of the building will be able to be rented for weddings, parties, receptions and other events.
    This part of Central Hall will have its own kitchen and a working stage, where once again the public can view various performances from both floor seating and from the balconies looking down. The foundation under the stage has been repaired and the building now has a new roof.
    The second floor is expected to reopen in 2015, as will a new addition to Central Hall. The new 12-foot addition on the western side will provide additional space for an elevator, to enable access for everyone, and the upper-level kitchen.
    For more information on the Central Hall project, go to www.mainehighlandsseniorcenter.org.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    BUY A BRICK — One of the fundraisers for the Central Hall project is the purchase of a brick from the Friends of Central Hall. The bricks can be engraved and placed on the walkway leading to the building on East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft.