True Tales from Canton’s Past: A Facelift

A classic view of Memorial Hall from 1965 taken by Ed Galvin (Courtesy of the Canton Historical Society)

In her youth her skin was flawless. The sun glanced across her face, and her rosy cheeks blushed red and people adored her. She was the epitome of finery in dress and behavior. Many years ago, in her golden days, there were dances, recitals, shows, and people came from all over to see her. She would sit on the small hill overlooking Washington Street and watched countless parades pass by, never missing even one. So well regarded was she that even Mark Twain, the most famous of American writers, came to visit and spend an evening with her. In our town, there was great excitement whenever she was part of an event or solemn occasion.

This grand lady is Memorial Hall, and for nearly a century and a half she has borne witness to our history. She spent time with soldiers from the Civil War, and during both world wars she was part of many send-offs and homecomings. Through it all she was steadfast in her service to the town. People flocked to her door and always held her in the highest esteem — and still do.

You may have noticed that there is oak cribbing holding up her smile. At the main portico several thousand pounds of wooden shoring is keeping us safe from the small porch failing. Engineers determined that structurally she is sound, but there are flaws in her 143-year-old countenance. And that is why she is about to undergo a major preservation project — a facelift if you will — that will keep her safe and sound.

It all started several years ago when the town undertook a study to investigate the condition of every municipal building. In 2019, replacement of the copper roof above the main entrance of Memorial Hall was funded through a $28,000 Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant. It was then that defects were discovered that would lead to a closer examination of the building. Water had seeped into the decorative brownstone and had weakened the small eyebrow over the doors. Soon, engineers and building experts eyed every inch of the structure. The final report listed several deficiencies, most of which could be addressed over time. One potentially fatal condition could not go unaddressed: The entire structure needed to be repointed. That is, the mortar that held the bricks in place would need to be removed and replaced.

Steve Choiniere is an amiable fellow. A smile on his face usually hides the concerns that he has as the person in charge of taking care of our municipal buildings. The study that called for the repointing of Memorial Hall estimated that just over $1 million would be needed for repairs. In 2020, Choiniere approached the town’s Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) for the million-dollar project. Under the CPA, historic preservation can be funded as long as the work meets the secretary of interior’s standards for historic preservation.

Members of the CCPC were skeptical. Would $1 million be enough? Was the cost estimate accurate? And what about other structural deficiencies — had they been thoroughly studied? Instead of funding the project, the committee recommended a more complete historic engineering assessment and supported a $15,000 award that would revisit the structural analysis — this time under the watchful eyes of a preservation engineer.

Old buildings can be hard to read owing to lost techniques and antiquated building practices. But in New England, one of the best companies that studies structural needs of historic buildings is a firm by the name of Structures North Consulting Engineers. John Wathne, the principal engineer, was responsible for the structural engineering at the Tilden House and has worked on countless historic buildings. Painstakingly combing every inch of the exterior, Wathne concluded that this would be a major preservation undertaking.

A view of the intricate brick work on the façade (Courtesy of Spencer, Sullivan & Vogt)

At Memorial Hall his report was sobering. The long-term neglect and deferred maintenance had taken its toll. Mortar had deteriorated; step cracks were flowing down the building; and some of the slate roof was missing. The clock tower that was installed in the mid 1970s is leaning back and interior support has to be designed. None of the issues are fatal, but all need to be managed if Memorial Hall is to survive.

A complete and thorough repointing and repair is needed at an estimated cost of $2.8 million. The $15,000 CPA grant was money well spent, because it provided the clearest picture of what needed to be done. And without hesitation the Select Board put forth a request to town meeting to decide the fate of Memorial Hall. Equally without hesitation, the people of Canton voted to support the work, and the CCPC advised that an additional award of nearly $284,000 would pay for historic and architectural design work.

Last month saw the kickoff of the project with an up-close investigation and high-tech laser measurements. A large aerial lift was brought in, and a full day of photography, testing and observation yielded valuable data. Lynne Spencer is the preservation architect on the project and serves the town under a contract with the Building Renovation Committee. She is also among the finest preservationists in the commonwealth and her measured eye sized up Memorial Hall.

Considered both historically and architecturally significant, the Romanesque Revival building (called Modern Gothic when it was built) opened in October 1879 and was designed by Stephen C. Earle. The builder was Joseph W. Coburn, who had extensive experience with some of the greatest buildings of his time. This same company built town halls in Stoughton and Walpole. Here in Canton, they built the train station, the house for Elijah Morse, and mills for the Draper Brothers. They were the best builders of their time.

Built upon Concord granite, Memorial Hall is an imposing structure. Reminiscent of a great cathedral, the building includes stained glass windows at the highest reaches. This is no coincidence; Earle was a designer of churches and grand public buildings. Throughout Worcester are many of his works and they do include religious buildings. In Canton he created a monument to the men who died in the Civil War. The materials used were the finest available, and the building cost $31,000 to build.

Looking closely at the brick work, the architects discovered that Memorial Hall’s front façade (the side facing Washington Street) has a higher grade of brick than the remaining sides — ensuring she put her best face forward. Across the structure are five distinct and different red bricks, and there is evidence that some of the bricks were originally painted black. The mortar also shows signs of black tinting that would have been highlights of the intricacies of the design. Look closely and you will see basketweaves, sawtooth bricks, and Flemish bond styles. The brick is art in itself and worthy of study. The building also features a fair amount of Longmeadow freestone — commonly called brownstone — and it is very porous and soft. Great care is used when preserving these delicate details.

It will take a team to complete this project. Bob McCarthy heads up the town’s Building Renovation Committee and he brought together fellow board members and consults closely with the Select Board, the Historical Commission, and the building commissioner. Having overseen dozens of public projects, McCarthy will watch both the budget and workmanship. The team also includes a professional staff of consultants that will monitor materials, specifications and the development of a work plan. Literally dozens of people will either consult, or as private citizens give of their time and talents to make sure this building gets the attention to detail that she deserves.

In the end, buildings are merely containers. In the case of Memorial Hall, she is still a grand lady that contains the hopes and memories of an ever grateful community. While it was intended to honor our heroes of the Civil War, she continues to serve a practical civic use. This historic site is home to our seat of government, and the work we will do shall prolong her history well into the 21st century.

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