SMYRNA – The Smyrna Historical Committee’s vision includes some day restoring the integrity of the town’s hall and creating a museum space for the public.
First, the recently-formed group needs more members, said Smyrna Town Historian and committee member Robert Matteson.
“Eventually we’ll be going after grants in order to do the things we need to do,” said Matteson. “We’d like to get more people involved from the beginning, to come in with more suggestions.”
Still in its infancy, the committee is scheduled to meet with a representative from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at the town hall Oct. 29 to gather information on the technical and legal aspects of forming a preservation society. Matteson said anyone considering getting involved is encouraged to attend.
“The whole idea is to get people interested in their local history,” said Matteson. “Especially the younger generations. We see a lot of interest among Smyrna’s older population. It’s the younger people moving into the area that don’t seem to have an interest right now. But someday, when they get older, they probably will. We want them to get involved early, to make sure it’s still here for them.”
The historical committee was formed following the town’s Bicentennial celebrations in 2008.
Members, on their own time and with their own money, have already begun some minor restorations at the town hall, which currently acts as the town’s court, offices and polling site for elections. The building, located at the corner of Academy and School streets, was erected by the town in 1907 as an opera house – featuring musical performances and theatrical productions throughout the first half of the century – that doubled as a space for government business. At one point it was also leased to show movies. In 1953, it was partitioned to create two extra classrooms for the Smyrna school.
Through the work of the historical committee, the building was last year placed on the national and state historic registries.
Smyrna Supervisor James Bays said the town board approved the committee’s formation and supports its initial mission to research grant possibilities for restoring the former opera house.
“It’s important these days to try and retain as much of a town, village or hamlet as you can,” said Bays. “When things start moving out, the whole village changes. There’s real merit in keeping as much of the integrity as you can.”
Eventually the group would like turn the hall’s stage – currently storage – into a public space to display a collection of Smyrna’s history, which includes scores of original documents, photographs, artifacts and fire equipment – a pumper truck and horse cart from the mid-1800s – from the town’s founding and later years.
“I’m really astounded by all the things they still have here,” said Matteson.
Removing the partition that divides the main hall in two is also under consideration. The original balcony and decorative ceiling are also intact, although hidden by a drop ceiling.
“We want to bring back the building’s integrity as an opera house,” said Matteson.