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191 Year-Old Building to Be Torn Down in New Hampton

Courtesy of the Town of New Hampton
The Grange Hall building was built in 1826 in the town's center as a chapel. (Current Photo)

A 191-year-old building in New Hampton could be torn down as early as next month. That's after residents voted last week against paying to save it.

Credit Courtesy of the Town of New Hampton
This photo taken in the early 1900's shows the Grange Hall located on the far right.

For more than 25 years Kris Harmon has woken up across the street from the Grange Hall building. She’s picked up her son from events there, attended town meetings and even cast votes there.

The two-and-a-half story white building is made of old timber, with post and beam construction. It’s been used as a chapel, a schoolhouse and a community center.

“It was part of New Hampton’s identity – it would be nice to have a community center again, what we had will be lost forever," Harmon said.

Credit Courtesy of the Town of New Hampton
This 1889 photo shows the Grange Hall on the right, which at the time was used as classrooms.

But the church that owns the building says it no longer has use for it and wants to tear it down to build a parking lot. In order to save the building, the town would have had to pay $150,000 to move it downtown.

That plan fell short by 37 votes - 134 to 97. Those for tearing the building down were against paying the initial as well as ongoing costs to keep it open. 

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