- Re:I am sad-more of Wolfeboro's history is going. - Wolfeboro Community Forums

On August 5th:
tis wrote:

QUOTE:
Do any of you know the little building you see directly across North Main Street, when stopped at the stop sign at Waumbec Road? Well, it is scheduled to be torn down Wed. Just like the information booth, it is another part of Wolfeboro that will be gone forever. In the old days it was called Starlight Hall and was the community gathering place for the people of Goose Corner. I wish there was some way these little old buildings could be saved.

Tis (or anyone) - Any fresh news on the fate of Starlight Hall? I've not been by it since Thursday, August 14th. Do you know if it is still standing? The resulting discussion on the Historic District and the Historic District Commission grew lively for a while, but no further word about Starlight Hall's fate has ever appeared.

I went by it Fri. I think old coot and it was still there. I am assuming since the date it was slated to be torn down, it rained and must have been postponed and he can't get back to it. If we had known if would have given us some time to do something to save it if anyone wanted to. I will check tomorrow to see if it is still there.

Any ideas o coot on how we can save it. I just noticed there are two of you with the oc initials. Old curmudgeon and old coot!

I have no idea how to save Starlight Hall, or enough about its condition and status to come to an intelligent conclusion as to whether it can or should be saved. Starlight Hall was an important part of the history of Goose Corner. Today, most residents never even heard of Goose Corner, let alone Starlight Hall. I bet that somewhere there's one or more married couples who first became smitten with one another at a Starlight Hall dance. Anyone know of such a couple?
And yes, if my wits hadn't been on vacation at the time, I'd have picked a different nickname than old coot, especially so as to avoid any confusion of initials with the genuine and original Old Curmudgeon. Maybe people can use the small case oc when referring to me and capitalize OC when referring to the Old Curmudgeon.

I have no idea how to try to save it either. I asked that it be mentioned at the Historical Society meeting and it was, but apparently it didn't do any good. Other than that, I don't know. I just don't understand why the historical society doesn't have an interest in it. I guess historical value means making people in the present paint their house a certain color. I have heard it isn't in great shape either, but anything can be saved.

old coot. It is still there today.

tis - We were just reading today's Union Leader and on Page 2 is an article concerning the preservation of endangered historic properties. We haven't heard recently if the Starlight Hall is still standing - but if it is - there may be time to save it. Alot will depend on the present owner.

"The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is seeking nominations to its "Seven to Save" list, which aims to protect endangered historic properties. Nominations for 2008 may be submitted to the N.H. Presevation Alliance until September 15." On the Web: NHPreservation.org

If it is too late for the Starlight Hall, at least next time around there will be more resources for saving historic buildings in Wolfeboro.

Also on the same page was the announcement that the N.H. Division of Historical Resources has named the Carroll County Courthouse to the National Register of Historic Places. Five other sites were also named including a new District in Andover, N.H. (The Hersey Farm Historic District.)

Just an update as to what we have discovered about preserving historic buildings - hope this helps.

So birdwatcher, where is the Historical Society or all the people who claim to be so "historic" like those that run the historic distric in all this. Why is NOONE trying to save this place or the Information Booth etc,? I am going to look at the website you mentioned. Thanks.

Tis,

I'm sure this cute little building brings back a lot of nice memories for you. It is truly sad that the HDC will just let this building be squashed into the ground.


This is what Vitar (assessment co.) said about the building:

INTERIOR COMPLETELY GUTTED. HOLES IN FLOOR. SUBSTANTIAL ROT ON EXTERIOR. BUYER ALSO BOUGHT SEVERAL ABUTTING PARCELS. 2008 PU NC, PU 2009 FOR REMOVAL OF BLDG.

Jeez wolf, I'm not that old! But I do know the history of it. I heard today it has two or three weeks, still time to do something about it if we knew how. I was told it would be expensive to move. How much, I have no idea. Thanks for posting the picture.

The future of Starlight Hall is up to the owners and noone else so unless they are nostalgic about it then it goes and since they have only lived here a few years since they've bought that property I'm fairly certain their goal is not, nor was it ever to save it.

Historic Districts don't protect buildings from being torn down unless they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and then the only thing the National Register allows for is tax deductions for any money you take and put into a building to maintain it's historic integrity. The other downfall is that once a building is on the National Register then it is legally bound by maintaining it as it was and it severely limits anything you might want to do in the future to improve the property with new technologies and up to date features.

I've looked into the National Register several times on several different pieces of property and it's not necessarily a good thing from an owners perspective unless you're so rich you are restoring buildings for the love it and need tax deductions.

You are right, DF. It is up to the owner. However, I have found out that if someone would move it, it would be allowed. It would save the owner the expense of tearing it down. The problem is, who would move it and where?

The history of Starlight Hall is woven into the history of Goose Corner, in the neighborhood where it is currently situated. To move it to a new location where it would not be part of the fabric of its new location would preserve nothing but the rotting hulk that's left.
Historic preservation should serve a living purpose where that which has been preserved continues a valid and useful purpose into the present. A good example of my point would be the current use of the South Wolfeboro Schoolhouse as Dr. DeMasi's office. Sadly, it seems as if Starlight Hall's time may have passed.

It's an orphan.

Maybe you are right oc, but it makes me very sad. I just wish I wasn't so busy right now and I would work hard to see what I could do.

Hi Tis,
I am asking this question purely on my own hunch, absolutely no one has give me any information about you - but, were your father's initials EWC?
Probably not, but it's fun to play Kreskin now and then!

No, but you do know me.

Oh well, guess I'll keep my day job!

I heard that they are trying to design the new and improved Starlight Hall to look very much like the front does now. It will be a little bigger but hopefully recognizable from the front. If we can't keep the old one because it is too rotten, this is the next best thing! A new old Starlight Hall!

tis wrote:

QUOTE:
I heard that they are trying to design the new and improved Starlight Hall to look very much like the front does now. It will be a little bigger but hopefully recognizable from the front. If we can't keep the old one because it is too rotten, this is the next best thing! A new old Starlight Hall! :woohoo:

That's a nice idea. I think that the property's owner(s) should be commended for showing respect for their property's history and be shown respect for their decision. I hope that's the way it goes.

I am not sure if it was the owner, but I think it was the builder who is designing it and since it was his idea, he is the one we should thank. I know him and have been talking to him about it and I think he did it to appease me and anyone else like us on here that cares. I am very pleased.