Renovation of Bridgton’s historic community hall makes headway
Photo / Courtesy Walker Memorial Hall Corp.
The past year was a good one for renovations at Walker Memorial Hall, in the Cumberland County town of Bridgton, and more projects are planned for 2025.
The past year was a good one for renovations at Walker Memorial Hall in Bridgton.
That's according to Kenneth Abbott, president of the Walker Memorial Hall Corp., which is leading a group of community volunteers in the restoration and renovation effort.
The historic community meeting hall at 421 Highland Road in the Cumberland County town of Bridgton is undergoing an extensive rehabilitation after a period of neglect.
An example of Queen Anne architecture built in 1892 by Joseph Walker, the structure includes a three-story tower with a belfry and gables and a portico.
The hall was built for the benefit of residents of Bridgton School District 18 by a bequest from Walker, a Maine businessman and summertime resident of Bridgton.
But in recent years, it was languishing and largely unused.
A group of neighbors formed the nonprofit to rehabilitate the site, which was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1983.
Upon completion, the hall had a cupola; a library, kitchen and dining room downstairs; and an auditorium and stage upstairs.
Coming into the 21st century, the hall languished, was minimally maintained and largely unused.
The goal of the renovation is to meet modern expectations and standards, while maintaining the historic feel and connection to the past of the structure.
2024 accomplishments
In a letter to the community, Abbott said 2024 accomplishments included:
- Installing a new well, ensuring a reliable water source for the building.
- Enhancing the interior with repairs to walls and ceilings, and a fresh coat of paint in the theater, dining hall and foyer.
- An upgrade of the electrical service and installation of all new lighting fixtures.
Curation projects for the hall’s library and collections have begun. Volunteers have staffed projects to inventory, organize and declutter the building's contents. A parlor grand piano was donated to the hall’s theater.
Summer fundraising was successful, he said, and the corporation has pursued grant opportunities, submitting three applications and successfully securing one from the Ham Foundation. The total cost of the renovation is estimated to be between $200,000 and $225,000, Abbott has told Mainebiz.
A new director, Jim Mains of Bridgton, was appointed to lead the corporation, which has recruited a core group of volunteers. Dave Gries, a volunteer, was named chief curator for the Hall, in recognition of the role he is playing in overseeing projects related to the preservation and display of the hall’s historical collections.
Donation of a plot of land from a neighboring lot was completed and timber was cleared to enable installing a septic system and the addition of a parking lot behind the building.
2025 outlook
A number of key projects are scheduled for the coming year, he said.
That includes:
- Construction of an ADA-compliant bathroom.
- Creation of an ADA-compliant entrance. The corporation is looking into a product that combines stairs and a wheelchair lift, eliminating the need for a long ramp.
- Installation of a modern septic system.
- Creation of a parking lot behind the building.
- A complete renovation of the kitchen to create a basic but functional kitchen. A kitchen plan was created in collaboration with Hancock Lumber, along with a quote for cabinets.
“These projects represent significant steps toward realizing the full potential of this historic building and transforming it into a vibrant community hub,” wrote Abbott.
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