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Readsboro to Discuss Historic Building's FateBy Jen Thomas - March 09, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
 | | The E.J. Bullock building in Readsboro. |
READSBORO, Vt. – After years of debate, townspeople will have a chance to officially weigh in on the best uses for the E.J. Bullock building, as several groups move forward with plans to rehabilitate the crumbling structure.
This Thursday, Readsboro Hometown Redevelopment Inc. and Readsboro Arts Inc. will host a community meeting aimed at getting residents' input on what the next steps will be for the historic building. Slated to begin at 7 p.m., the hearing will also chronicle the unique history of the building, provide an update on the project's momentum and unveil a report that details its structural condition.
According to David Marcheghiani, the chairman of the Readsboro Hometown Redevelopment committee, citizen comments are critical to moving the project forward.
"It's a whole process of who's going to be the buyers and who's going to be the investors. That's the next step after this public hearing. We want to know what the people of Readsboro want in that building after it's been restored," said Marchegiani.
The Main Street building, which has been used only as storage since 2006, has had many incarnations since its construction in the 1880s. Sometimes referred to as the "Masonic Building," the structure was once used as a Masonic temple, as well as a grocery store, the town library, an apartment complex and, in 1911, the first screening of a silent movie in town.
Most recently, the E.J. Bullock building was Buzz's Emporium, a catchall antiques and secondhand goods shop. Owned by William "Buzz" Wheeler, the shop operated out of the first floor of the three-story building and was abruptly shut down for numerous code violations.
"Mainly it's the roof and the water damage from a leaky roof that need to be fixed," said Marchegiani.
According to Marchegiani, Preservation Trust of Vermont, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the state's historic sites, is interested in helping to save the building and will likely be involved in the project's next phase. Sue Fillion, a planner with the Windham Regional Commission, has also been instrumental in facilitating the project's forward progress.
"It took about a year and a half to get to this point," said Marchegiani. "Now, we're just looking to see what residents want us to do."
Wheeler, who still owns the building, said although he had not been personally informed of the meeting, he intended to show up and voice his opinions.
"I wish it still were Buzz's Emporium but that's just not meant to happen. I would like to see the building back to the way it was originally, when it was first built. It was such a pretty building," Wheeler said.
Wheeler also said he'd like to see something to benefit the artists' community put in the Main Street building.
"I think artists' studios would be kind of nice. We've got a lot of art and artists around here. Right now, they have to go all the way to North Adams (Mass.) to be a part of that community. Maybe we should get something like that going here," he said.
The community meeting will take place on Thursday, March 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Readsboro Elementary School gymnasium. |
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