ROCKINGHAM-Over the past couple of weeks, several important projects in Rockingham have taken significant steps forward.
At the same time, the federal government shutdown, combined with ongoing massive cuts in federal funding and staffing, have added elements of uncertainty to the process for some of the work.
The federal chaos has led to many questions on what approved federal grants will be fully funded and when or if the money will be received.
But locally, on Oct. 14, two bond votes - one for major preservation work on the historic Rockingham Meeting House, and the other for funding a new roof on the Town Hall - were both overwhelmingly approved by voters.
In addition, Rockingham for Progress Inc. (RFP), which is restoring the dormant Miss Bellows Falls Diner, received a major state tax credit award. And the long-anticipated restoration work on the village train depot also began last week.
These projects involve preserving and maintaining four of the most historically significant structures in the town. Over the past several years, both town officials and volunteer citizen groups have been instrumental in moving these projects forward.
Town Manager Scott Pickup said he was pleased with the bond votes, as well as the progress on the train station and the Meeting House.
Preserving and maintaining the town's historic structures are both "our responsibility and our obligation," Pickup said.
He added that citizens have been giving their time, skills, and monetary donations, all of which have been necessary in moving these projects along.
"A lot of this work is grant funded," Pickup said, "and the community has been very supportive." This is particularly true of the restoration of the Miss Bellows Falls Diner, he noted.
"We need the grants," to get these projects done, he said. "Unfortunately, at the moment politics has frozen a lot of the funding."
Town Hall and the Meeting House
One of the most urgent projects facing the town is the replacement of the roof on the Town Hall, which houses the administrative offices, a 553-seat theater and performance space, and other venues in constant use.
"The roof leaks horribly," Pickup said, and the water has damaged the plaster in several offices and threatened the camera equipment in the movie theater's projection room.
The Town Hall will celebrate its centennial in 2026, and Pickup said that the roof has been "sealed several times," but is failing and now needs to be replaced.
"We have a contractor, and the materials have been ordered," Pickup said. "We hope to start this next week. I would really like to see this done before Thanksgiving."
The total cost for the project is $680,000, covered by a $160,000 state grant. The $525,000 balance is covered by the local 30-year bond.
The Rockingham Meeting House is considered an architectural gem of the community. Built from 1787 to 1801, it was used for decades for meetings by church, community, and government alike.
Neglected for some time, it was restored in 1906, and preservation efforts have continued since then.
Owned by the town, the Meeting House was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. government in 2000 and is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved buildings of its type in the nation.
The Meeting House bond article for $125,000 was approved in the Oct. 14 vote. The funds will serve as the local match for two large National Park Service Saving America's Treasures federal grants that the town has already received toward the project, estimated at nearly $3 million.
"We've started the bidding process for work to begin in spring 2026," said Walter Wallace, the coordinator of the Rockingham Historic Preservation Commission.
Preservation includes maintenance on the slate roof, foundation work, plaster and exterior woodwork conservation, and restoration of interior details such as the box pews.
Wallace said that an open house with a detailed report to the community about the project is being organized at the Meeting House for Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a formal discussion scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Voters originally approved both bonds earlier in the year by voice vote. The town was advised by its attorney that the bonds had to be approved by Australian ballot, necessitating the October balloting.
Of 3,800 registered voters, 171 cast ballots, with the outcome mirroring the earlier decisions. The bond for the Meeting House was approved 135–35, and the one for the Town Hall roof, 138–33.
Work begins on train depot
The $3.3 million train depot restoration project began last week, starting with a focus on environmental hazard remediation.
Pickup said that three firms have been contracted for the initial environmental work.
A vapor barrier in the basement of the building will seal it from gases resulting from soil pollution, followed by asbestos remediation. Then work on the building's windows will ensure that the structure is watertight.
With the environmental hazards addressed and the building secure from water damage, the rest of the restoration work can proceed safely, Pickup said.
Gov. Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development also announced last week just over $3.3 million in funding for 34 rehabilitation and revitalization projects in 23 of Vermont's designated downtown and village centers.
The Miss Bellows Falls Diner is one of those projects.
The total project cost is estimated at $1.195 million, the award said, and the tax credit award is $145,000.
"The project includes restoration of the historic 1941 diner car and construction of a new addition with a commercial kitchen and ADA accessible restrooms," the award stated. "State tax credits will support important code-compliance work as well as façade repairs[,] ensuring this landmark can once again be a flourishing community asset and gathering place."
These tax credits "remain one of Vermont's most effective and popular tools for breathing new life into every corner of Vermont," said Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell in a news release.
The diner restoration project is the work of the Rockingham for Progress (RFP) citizens group.
"We got those pesky 75% plan sets in to Preservation Trust of Vermont," RFP said in a release last week, "along with the report from the Historic Preservation consultant outlining how brilliantly compatible the new construction is with the classic lines of Worcester Lunch Car #771, aka The Miss Bellows Falls Diner. In turn, PTV has submitted it to the National Park Service."
RFP is sponsoring a final Diner Dinner fundraiser of 2025 on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Bellows Falls Moose Lodge, where the group says they will update the community on the progress of the project.
"Moose Lodge member Aime Theroux will serve as chef and prepare roast pork, mashed potatoes, stuffing, squash, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, and rolls," the group announced. "Please specify vegan option at time order is placed. Dessert will be apple crisp with whipped cream."
For more information and tickets, visit missbellowsfalls.com.
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.