Renovations for two historic buildings and replacing the lights at Spillane Field using $1.3 million of the Community Preservation fund will be up for consideration at Town Meeting, Monday, Oct. 27.

Voters will be asked to consider allocating the funds to restore two historic buildings, Fearing Tavern and the First Congregational Church’s Groezinger Hall as well as replace the lights at Clem Spillane Field.

The money comes from a surtax on property values above $100,000 and, under the terms of the state’s Community Preservation Act, must be spent on historic preservation, open space preservation, recreation and affordable housing. The approval of Community Preservation projects does not affect the town’s tax rate.

Fearing Tavern Restoration. The Fearing Tavern is an aging building with portions of it dating back to the 1600s located at 11 Elm Street. The Wareham Historical Society purchased what used to be the Fearing family’s house in the 1950s and is asking for $640,000 to restore much of the building’s exterior and get a historic preservation restriction placed on the building.

“We’re trying to stabilize the exterior of the building,” said Community Preservation Committee treasurer Sandy Slavin.

Slavin explained the scope of the work would include restoring as much of the building’s exterior as $640,000 would allow.

The building is owned and maintained by the Wareham Historical Society and according to society Director Angela Dunham, the work would be to replace "architectural components that have long surpassed their lifespan.”

Such components include replacing and restoring the windows, doors, cedar shingles and filling in what used to be skylights in the roof.

Slavin added that if work is not done to restore the building, losing it is a possibility.

Groezinger Hall Restoration. Located at 1 Gibbs Avenue, Groezinger Hall is a part of the First Congregational Church and hosts many community events. The church is seeking $19,000 to restore a portion of the building’s exterior and put a historic preservation restriction on it.

Groezinger Hall was originally built in the early 1800s and the $19,000 would be used to hire a contractor to restore the exterior of the building to its original condition using materials from the time it was built. Restoration would include new paint to the exterior and replacing deteriorating parts of the building.
Slavin said the church is also putting up their own money to help pay for the renovations.

Light Replacement at Spillane Field. The school district is seeking $620,000 to replace the current lights at Clem Spillane Field where many of the high school’s teams play including football, soccer and baseball as well as the Wareham Gatemen in the summer.

The lights need replacing as many of the wooden poles that hold the lights up have exceeded their life expectancy, according to Slavin. She added that the lights themselves need to be replaced with more modern LEDs for more effective and cost-efficient lighting.

“If you go there at night you can see that the lights are not very good,” Slavin said. “Anybody who uses that field for any type of sports should have some decent lighting.”

Town Meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Wareham High School auditorium, 7 Viking Drive.