NEWS

Future of former Frankfort town hall uncertain

Donna Thompson
donna@timestelegram.com
The old Frankfort town hall on South Litchfield Street has been vacant for a half-dozen years, and at this point, town officials have no plans for the building.

FRANKFORT – While the former Frankfort town hall at 140 South Litchfield St. is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, its future is uncertain.

The town moved its offices to 201 Third Ave. in 2014 after renovating the new location. The old town hall has been vacant since — and while the town still owns the building, it is not using it and has no plans for it.

“We got the records out that we needed and we send somebody to mow the lawns so it doesn’t look like an eyesore. We fixed the roof that was leaking so it’s weather tight,” said Town Supervisor Glenn Asnoe. “But right now, we don’t have a plan for it.”

Councilman John Wallace, who was on the town board’s building committee at the time of the move, said there are no funds available to preserve the building even though it was put on the National Register.

“There was water pouring into the basement,” Wallace said. “The board would be thrilled if some nonprofit or historical society wanted to do something with it. We don’t have the money to restore it and the taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for it. If we did restore it, who would take care of it?”

Moving to 201 Third Ave. was necessary even though there was no plan for the former town hall, Wallace said, adding that the old building was neglected for years before he was elected to the town board. In addition to maintenance issues, the old town hall lacked handicapped access. The town bought the Third Avenue building in 2009.

Still, there is a lot of history in that old town building, Wallace said.

The town hall was built as a memorial to those who served in World War I and dedicated on Memorial Day, 1924, according to Sue Perkins, executive director of the Herkimer County Historical Society. The building was placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1999.

“People in their 70s, 80s or 90s will remember that it was a focal point for the community,” Wallace said. “There were dances there and entertainment. It still has the stage lights and curtain.”