HADLEY — Although there appears to be public support for investing in a historic town-owned building that anchors Hadley center, the future use of the 128-year-old Russell School could become a point of contention.
“I think it’s an important part of our town center,” Historical Commission Chairwoman Diana West told the Russell School Committee at a public forum last month, explaining that the building is unique and worthy of preservation due its freestanding masonry construction and place in a National Historic District.
“Overall, it will take a lot of work if we want to save this building,” West said. “I’m fully in support of saving the building even if doesn’t remain under town ownership.”
But Dan Regish, a member of the committee that is soliciting community input via surveys and forums, said the town should appropriate money for the building so that it can be used for municipal purposes, such as offices that can’t be accommodated at the nearby Town Hall.
“We should be saving this building and using it,” Regish said. “It’s a usable space, a building with potential to last thousands of years.”
The forum was the first time for the public to speak directly to the Russell School Committee, which will bring a report to the Select Board early next year after all community surveys are in.
Committee Chairwoman Courtney Meyer said the goal is a timely decision on what avenue to pursue for the building — whether it should be retained and renovated for town use; whether the town should make a moderate investment so that a private entity could rehabilitate it; or whether is should be demolished.
Committee member Carolyn Holstein said more than 500 surveys have been completed so far. “That tells you that people are very interested in that building,” Holstein said.
Holstein said money for stabilizing the building is a priority for her. “That’s the main thing — we want to get the building stable,” Holstein said.
“There’s a myriad of things the building could be used for, both publicly and privately,” said committee member Alan Weinberg.
Weinberg said stabilizing alone could cost $1 to $2 million, but would make it more attractive for a private developer, should the town go that route.
Leasing to a nonprofit or private entity would be similar to the approach used at the Hatfield Center School, which is now condominiums, and the Sunderland Town Hall, where the Blue Heron restaurant is.
Demolition is estimated at a cost of around $700,000.
The building opened in 1894 as the fourth home of Hopkins Academy following a fire that destroyed the previous building a year earlier.
Regish said the building was built at a cost of $17,177.09 with a unanimous vote by residents, and was used as an elementary school through 1996.
While there have been concerns about the building settling, Regish said the telltale gauges, used to determine if the foundation is stable, have shown little movement.
“It’s amazing how strong this building is. There’s no squeaks in the floor,” Regish said.
There is also no deflection in the roof rafters, and while there is deterioration, the building remains strong, he said.
Historical Commission member Denise Barstow Manz said the commission has been looking at grant opportunities and should consider investing tax money that might be leveraged for accessing those other funding sources.
Select Board member Molly Keegan said it’s important to understand what the options are, noting that people may get nervous if there is a multimillion-dollar ask from the Community Preservation Act account.
Only one resident directly questioned the need to keep the building. Gregory Kwolek said he didn’t understand the historical importance of a building that George Washington didn’t sleep in and Abraham Lincoln didn’t speak from.
Holstein said while most people surveyed appear favorable to a project at the Russell School, the committee wants to get a range of views, including those who might be hesitant about speaking at a forum.
“Folks who aren’t too keen on spending money on this building, we’d like to hear from you as well,” Holstein said.
