Restoring a Community Hub
On a chilly Saturday morning in early January, the sound of tiny feet echoes through the lofty ceilings of Memorial Hall in Charlestown, Massachusetts as the Mini Movers dance class begins. The Bunker Hill Monument Association is gathered below to discuss the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the first major battle of the American Revolution, which took place right in Charlestown. An illustration of Abraham Lincoln gazes down over the morning’s activities, and a delighted screech cuts through the discussion. The attendees don’t seem to mind.
This vibrant scene is the result of a years-long community effort, which included a significant, four-year renovation project by the North Bennet Street School (NBSS) Preservation Carpentry (PC) program. “What you see here today,” gestures Larry Stevens, Treasurer of Memorial Hall Inc., “is the result of a small group of veterans coming together and partnering with the community and passionate preservationists, united in a mission to restore the building to its original grace.”
A Building With Many Lives
Since its construction in 1791 as a residence for attorney and Congressman Samuel Dexter (May 14, 1761 – May 4, 1816), Memorial Hall has taken on many forms. The Federal Period building was eventually sold to Abraham Lincoln Post 11 of the Grand Army of the Republic, which converted it into a social club and meeting hall for veterans.
By 2008, Memorial Hall had fallen into disrepair, prompting its Abraham Lincoln Post board to take on the role of stewards. They began efforts to revitalize Charlestown’s first Federal-style Georgian mansion, making it a centerpiece of the community once again. Larry, along with Joe Zuffante (President of the Board), Stan Leonard (Vice President), and Wally Southern (Building Manager)—or as they like to call themselves, The Old Guys Construction Company—began laying the foundation for its restoration.
“The community was wary at first,” said Joe, referencing the building’s advanced state of disrepair. “After receiving an initial round of funding, we made some repairs, erected the Vietnam Memorial out front, and started focusing on developing relationships.”
A Partnership in Preservation
Connecting with the Charlestown Preservation Society eventually led them to NBSS, which became a longstanding partnership. Larry shares, “We knew North Bennet was the perfect fit, thanks to their strong ties to the veteran community and passion for preserving important historical structures.”
The renovation, overseen by Michael Burrey, Preservation Carpentry instructor at NBSS, was no small feat. “When we first walked through,” Michael says with a laugh, “we saw Brosco windows spray-foamed in place, steel across the front door, and shingles hanging loosely on the exterior. The building was in desperate need of help.”
The project was an invaluable hands-on learning experience. Michael and his students thoughtfully explored the building’s plank frame windows and siding. They removed one of the windows, to be restored in their program space at NBSS. Throughout this process, Michael guided the students through each component of the plank frame, reviewing the materials and techniques used to create a comprehensive learning environment. Moving forward, each class had the opportunity to take over a portion of the restoration, with subsequent groups responsible for removing shingles and restoring original exterior siding, windows, and the belvedere on top of the building.
Learning from the Past
For Tim Fries, a 2020 PC graduate who worked at Memorial Hall as a student and later as an alumnus, the project exemplified the importance of patience in preservation and learning to embrace what’s there—rather than what you wish were there. “Sometimes, previous repair efforts would complicate our work, making it difficult to decide where to begin or how a particular repair should look,” he explained. “While this can be paralyzing, we managed to overcome these challenges, which were the real learning moments.”
Students had the opportunity to learn how to face those challenges and strike a balance on a project as large and complex as Memorial Hall. From carefully removing shingles to uncover the original pine siding (much of which was preserved) to removing a century-old layer of tin and replacing the columns via a well-staged belvedere, the process was both meticulous and transformative.
Each step was an opportunity to problem-solve. “Every decision involves trade-offs and challenges that will come up,” Tim reflected. “I think we found the right balance in the end.”
In addition to finding that balance, Michael demonstrated the importance of thinking ahead and the value of past craftsmanship. “I had the students save all of the hand-cut nails used to fasten the original clapboards,” he said. “I encouraged them to think ahead by having them reuse these nails, which were perfectly shaped for securing clapboards. After collecting, sorting, and straightening, we used those nails to fasten the new clapboards we replaced.”
A Space Reborn
Today, Memorial Hall stands tall and is alive with activity. It remains a gathering place for veterans and a cherished community hub—one now deeply connected to NBSS.
Tim recalls knowing nothing about Memorial Hall or Charlestown before the renovation started but now considers the building and the neighborhood old friends.
Though The Old Guy Construction Company is still going strong, there will come a time when they will be ready to hand over the keys to a new generation of community leaders. “We want this place to be self-sustaining, beautiful, and useful to the next generation,” explained Joe. “The work North Bennet’s Preservation Carpentry students took on has brought us closer to that goal, allowing us to maintain Memorial Hall as a space for everyone.”
Do you have a large-scale historic preservation project you think our students could take on? Seeking a Preservation Carpentry graduate to preserve a historic structure or craft a structure using historic techniques? Submit your project to our Jobs & Commissions Board.
