http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140530/NEWS02/709269943
Published May 30, 2014 in the Rutland Herald
Old schoolhouse to be Chamber welcome center
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Chamber of Commerce said this week it is interested in helping operate the historic Eureka Schoolhouse as a welcome center, but it is not interested in owning the state’s oldest surviving one-room schoolhouse.
The state of Vermont has offered the landmark 1785 schoolhouse to the town of Springfield, as part of a Legislature-mandated move to divest itself of several small state historic sites, including the Eureka Schoolhouse.
Jenevieve Johnson, executive director of the chamber, told the Springfield Select Board on Tuesday night it was willing to continue to operate a welcome center at the schoolhouse, just not ownership.
“We want to support the town, if the town wants to take it over,” she said. “We might be interested in a sublease,” she said.
But before the town accepts the schoolhouse, Johnson said, there should be a qualified inspection of the schoolhouse, as well as its small bathroom facilities, which are a short distance from the routes 106/11 site.
The bathroom facility is in “rough shape,” she said.
The schoolhouse is owned by the state, and is operated jointly with the Chamber of Commerce as a combination museum and modest welcome center. The Baltimore Covered Bridge, which was also moved to the schoolhouse site, would be included in the transfer.
The schoolhouse was moved to its current location from its original site in Springfield’s Eureka District, and only contains a portion of original material, said Robert Forguites, town manager.
The schoolhouse closed in 1900, and in 1958 it was dismantled and documented. It was reassembled in the public spot on routes 106/11 in 1968, and it was filled with period antiques donated by residents.
Select Board member George McNaughton said if the restrooms could be renovated, and the town given a waiver from state requirements dealing with development on the banks of the Black River, the schoolhouse could be used to sell local and regional products.
He said he knew of a “vendor” who is interested in leasing the schoolhouse to do just that.
“We are more than willing to help in any way,” Johnson said.
Wendi Germain, president of the Chamber, said the town must make sure that the building is “up to code” and in good condition.
Johnson questioned whether the Chamber should open the schoolhouse for the summer season, as negotiations with the state were underway.
“Go ahead and do it,” Forguites said.
It's the old "We'll run it, you taxpayers pay for it" strategy!
ReplyDeleteThe Chamber has been running the Eureka Schoolhouse as a visitor's center for the Town of Springfield for years while it has been owned by the state, The State no longer wants to own the property, it would make sense for the town to own it.
ReplyDeleteNo, it would "take cents" (many, many of them) for the town to own it. I don't suppose you'll opt to pay for the first year's upkeep, would you?
DeleteThought so...
Don't forget the machine tool industry will be back any day! We don't need to worry about making any kind of positive changes in Springfield....
DeleteSurely there must be some kind of scam, er...investment strategy funded with tax dollars from unsuspecting citizens that can be used here. I wonder what our man Flint can come up with.
ReplyDeleteFlint will undoubtedly come up with his usual (justifying his own job)
DeleteIf the town takes ownership of it its another building they will have to maintain it, wouldn't it be better for the state to continue to own it? The state has not kept the property up, so will the town get stuck bringing it up to standards? It will if the town takes ownership of it How much funding is going to be required to bring it up to standards? Another expense the state is forcing onto the local communities in Vermont.
ReplyDelete