The voters of the town of Gray decided in November not to spend up to $500,000 of taxpayer money to refurbish Stimson Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The vote of the people to sell this property was decisive.

The Gray Town Council apparently believes that this also means that they should spend $100,000 of taxpayer money to demolish it and the other two abandoned town buildings on Shaker Road. By the time that this letter is printed, the council may have decided which properties to demolish as well as which to put on the market.

The town has been unable to sell these properties during the past decade, and now it seems that the expenses to sell may be around $100,000 higher (depending on the contractor). Curiously, the council did not ask for bids to demolish the Pennell Lab building, which has been abandoned for much longer, and is wasting space that could be used for expanded parking in front of Newbegin.

If Stimson Hall is demolished, I think that some of the more historic architectural elements should be preserved for future display. Interesting items might include pieces from the audience balcony, the entire circular window high atop the front pediment, a section of the stage floor, a complete series of up-to-date pre-demolition photos, and perhaps a small section of one of the columns.

Further, if Stimson Hall is to be demolished, I would like to see the land be preserved as a simple green, public space with a few benches. (An option to turn some of the property into a park was not offered to the voters.) Studies and plans consistently argue for making the village “pedestrian friendly.” What could be friendlier than a small community “Monument Park?” Perhaps in the future someone might offer to erect a gazebo there, in honor of the venerable Captain Stimson.

Designs have already been created, with extensive citizen input, for an attractive business/residence complex along Shaker Road with limited street access, spacious rear parking and an improved ballpark.

In contrast, the very worst case might be for the town to sell the property to some out-of-towner who wants only to build a cheap and garish drive-through restaurant, to sell unhealthy food and pay poor wages, while multiplying the traffic hazards already in the village corner.

The town of Gray is fortunate to have a council composed of thoughtful representatives. They will be determining the future of Gray’s distinctive and symbolic “monument corner.” I encourage the council to choose carefully.

Mark D. Grover

Gray