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City rededicates South Meeting House
PORTSMOUTH — The City of Portsmouth recently rededicated the South Meeting House at a ceremony celebrating the refurbishment of the South End landmark that previously housed the Children’s Museum.
Assistant Mayor Nancy Novelline Clayburgh and other City Council members joined City Manager John Bohenko, the Friends of the South End and the Portsmouth Advocates historic presentation group in marking the completion of the year-long restoration of the building, which was originally constructed in 1731 as a parish meeting house and then rebuilt by the City in the mid-1800s.
“Now that we have completed the restoration of this icon with the help and enthusiastic support of the Friends of the South End and Portsmouth Advocates, we will be looking for an appropriate non-profit entity to continue the use of this venerable structure,” the City Manager said Wednesday.At the June 18 dedication ceremony, the Portsmouth Advocates presented an award to the City, its contractor Charter Brothers Contractors, and the Friends of the South End in recognition of the challenging restoration of the building.
The refurbishment included replacement of the roof, clock tower repairs and painting. The City Council authorized the use of $205,000 in Urban Development Action Grant funds for the work so that no taxpayer money would be necessary. When work crews uncovered unexpected problems that required repairs, the Friends of the South End contributed approximately $2,300 toward the project.
The building has enjoyed a variety of uses over the years. In 1866, the City purchased the parish house and rebuilt it for use as a school and public meeting auditorium. From the mid-1960s through mid-1970s, it leased the building to Strawbery Banke. The City leased it to the Children’s Museum from the early 1980s until it outgrew the space and relocated in September 2008.
When the relocation was announced, the Friends of the South End stepped forward and offered to work with the City to undertake improvements to the structure to prepare it for future use. A committee was formed to assess the structure and developed cost estimates for the refurbishment.
posted July 14, 2010