The Town of Swanzey is pleased to announce that the Town was awarded the 2023 Achievement Award for the Whitcomb Hall rehabilitation project at the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Conference on May 19th. This project rehabilitated Whitcomb Hall, the crown jewel of Main Street, including adding a fire suppression system to the entire building and adding accessibility from the first to the second floor. On the upper floor, the work included rehabilitating the original tin ceiling and walls, stage and balcony areas, refinishing floors, as well as compliance with safety, code, and other requirements. 

Construction took place during 2020 and was funded by the support of the Swanzey taxpayers ($95,000), donations from the community ($135,000) including the Gomarlo family’s donation of $50,000 as part of the Gomarlo family challenge, and grants ($355,000) including NH LCHIP ($150,000), the Thomas Haas Fund ($85,000), the Putnam Foundation ($80,000), and the Kingsbury Fund ($40,000). The Town’s partners in this project were the Whitcomb Hall Committee, Cheshire Builders, Inc., Weller & Michal Architects, Inc., Michael Petrovick Architects, PLLC, and the N.H. Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. 

Whitcomb Hall is a Town-owned building that is used for public meetings and is available to be rented for private events. George E. Whitcomb built Whitcomb Hall as a “public hall” in 1916 and gifted it to the Town.   

The Town will be hosting NH Preservation Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Goodman and Community Projects Services Manager Andrew Cushing at the June 7th Board of Selectmen meeting at Whitcomb Hall for a local award ceremony. This award recognizes a multi-year effort to restore life to this beloved and useful landmark.