Alex Malm
Londonderry Times
8/8/2024
During the most recent Reverend Morrison Meetinghouse Study Committee meeting, on Thursday, Aug. 1, Committee Chair, Kathy Wagner, raised concerns about the whereabouts of the beams that were originally supporting the floor of the historic meetinghouse. She even went as far as to say they were “extorted or robbed,” from the town.
“There was a statement made on the night we were all getting interviewed that the support beams had been taken out of the floor and thrown in the dumpster,” Wagner said.
She explained that it was stated that former Town Councilor, Jim Butler, and Ann Chiampa, an alternate member of the committee, “took them out of the dumpster and put them at the Historic Society.” Chiampa was not present for the meeting.
“I don’t know how we verify that, because if they are at the Historic Society, they actually belong to the Reverend Morrison House and they need to come back,” Wagner said.
Wagner said she wasn’t sure how to find out so, “If those beams are intact and at the Historic Society” saying if they are “they need to come back to the Reverend Morrison Meetinghouse.”
Alternate Committee member, Ray Breslin, mentioned he thinks they were taken out for a reason, adding that they were from small trees and not very straight. Wagner disagreed, saying they shouldn’t have been taken out at all and should be returned if they are usable, saying they could be potentially used for the floor.
Wagner said, “If they’re crap, then we won’t use them, but if they’re like that in this picture, they need to come back,” Wagner said.
Wagner argued that they could help to preserve some of the history of the building as well.
“We’re talking about preserving it too, and part of its history has been extorted and robbed so to speak… its been taken away without anybody’s authority,” Wagner said.
Committee Vice Chair, Derek D’Anna, said that even if they aren¹t usable for the flooring that it could be used elsewhere for show.
Wagner said she wants to verify and see if it’s true the beams were brought to the Historical Society saying “I don¹t want to accuse anybody of anything,” but said she wants the beams back to potentially use them somewhere in the building.
When reached by the Londonderry Times, Chiampa said she was given a letter at the time by then Town Manager, Kevin Smith, stating that the beams and artifacts were being given to the Londonderry Historical Society.
Smith wrote in the letter addressed to the Historical Society, “During the Lions Hall center floor restructure, which occurred in March/April of 2014 several artifacts were recovered during the demolition of the existing floor. To preserve a part of Londonderry’s history, the Town of Londonderry is transferring ownership “fee-free” of the hand hewn floor joists/beams and other artifacts recovered from ‘Dr. Morrison’s Meeting House. 1769-1837 (center part of what is now known as the Lions Hall) to the Londonderry Historical Society.” The meeting minutes from the March 27, 2014 Londonderry Heritage Commission stated, “Councilor Butler said that Lions Hall floor was being taken up and that there might be beams that could be salvaged for the Historical Society. He said that he would be there on that Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for anyone who was interested.”
The next Morrison House Study Committee meeting is slated to take place on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.