Survey results have been tallied in Gray, and nearly 300 residents and business owners have voiced wishes to keep historic buildings part of Gray Village.

“I think Pennell is really important. They just don’t build buildings like that anymore,” said Chris Dombrowski, who works and lives in Gray.

Earlier this year, the Gray Community Economic Development Committee presented the town with a survey asking residents what they would like to see for future use of the Pennell building on Main Street, and Stimson Hall on Shaker Road.

Dombrowski said history is valuable to Gray Village, something that George Thebarge, a planning consultant for the town of Gray, has been emphasizing over the last several months in advising the town through a grant process.

Of 330 respondents, 265 said it was important to preserve Stimson Hall, and 292 said the same for the Pennell Institute. Also, a vast majority said it is important for Town Hall to be located in Gray Village.

Ralph Wink, of the Community Economic Development Committee, said the committee was hoping to get 500 responses. Some people added detailed comments and drew diagrams to show their ideas.

The town has learned it will receive approximately $100,000 for a downtown revitalization project, and the maintenance and preservation of historic buildings is key to the project.

After Jeanne Carpentier, chairwoman of the Community Economic Development Committee presented survey results to the Gray Town Council, Gray resident James Monroe then suggested a straw poll during upcoming elections to get feedback from a larger portion of Gray voters on the future of the historic buildings.

“It’s such an important project. I would hate to think it might have been swayed in one direction or another,” said Monroe.

Council Chairwoman Deborah Mancini said the Town Council has yet to discuss the results of the survey, or the possibility of a straw poll.

Louise Knapp, of the Gray Historical Society, currently works inside the Pennell building, and is glad to see the town is taking steps to maintain it.

According to Knapp, the Pennell Institute was considered one of the best high schools in New England during the late 19th century. It served as the high school for the area until the 1960s. Ideally, Knapp said she would like to see the town offices move into the rear of the building, and the Pennell Institute turned into a “nice center for the town.”

Knapp said Stimson Hall, which was given to the town by the Stimson family around the early 1900s, is special because of its architecture.

“That’s a very unique building to see around this area,” said Knapp.

The Community Economic Development Committee will meet in April to move forward with planning for preservation. However, the committee will ultimately need voter support to proceed.

“I think they’re making some good steps in the right direction, and now it’s time for the taxpayers to support what they are trying to do,” said Dombrowski.