- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Municipal
Complex
celebrates
opening
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
It was a long road getting to the new Municipal Complex and it will serve a long line of those who follow.
At the close of his speech at the grand opening of the complex Oct. 23, Mayor Barney Seney said “It’s been centuries in the making and it will serve centuries into the future.” He recounted the “flawless” history of the project that was on time and under budget and credited the citizens of Putnam for their foresight and their support. The citizens voted to build the complex and, long ago, also voted to allow the Wheelabrator landfill and to save the rent money from that for future projects like this one.
“You citizens and you citizens alone, made this possible,” he said. In addition he gave credit to the building committee and its chairman Karen Osbrey, LLB Architects, general contractor Downes Construction Company, Town Administrator (and former town planner and town engineer) Elaine Sistare, and all the departments.
Originally the complex was going to house the Town Hall and the Putnam Public Library. But in the interest of serving all the citizens, a community center for seniors and more, and the new home for the Aspinock Historical Society were added, Seney said.
Osbrey said LLB Architects and Downes were “the consummate professionals.” She added: “This is more than bricks and mortar. It’s me, you and all of our community.”
Sistare thanked all the help from departments. “The departments made this work.” “We’re here for the community; we’re here to serve.”
Priscilla Colwell, library director, said “We will serve the community in so many ways for a long time to come.”
Bill Pearsall, president of the historical society, was over the moon with the society’s “magnificent” new space. He joked about living across from the society’s old quarters, the old Aspinock House. “Every morning I’d get up and look out my bedroom window to see if the building was still standing.” That building was demolished to make room for the School Street entrance and exit of the complex. He called 2021 a banner year for the society. First its new spacious home on the second floor of the complex, and second, after two and one-half years, renovations to the Gertrude Warner Boxcar Museum are complete and the museum is ready to open in the spring.
Architect R. Drayton Fair said this project has gone through six years, three town administrators and two mayors. “This is your town hall, above everything,” he said. “It contains the true essence of the citizens of Putnam.” Joseph Desautel from Downes said the town can take pride in this complex. “I think it’s second to none in its class.”
A ribbon cutting followed and Osbrey said the “Putnam Blue” ribbon will be given to the Aspinock Historical Society. Inside were refreshments, tours and the town’s first art exhibit on the first-floor hallway/gallery.
Sistare estimated about 90 people attended the grand opening, not counting departments and dignitaries and officials.
captions, page 4, clockwise from top:
After speeches, officials cut the ribbon at Putnam's new Municipal Complex. The blue bow was given to the Aspinock Historical Society.
Checking out the art exhibit.
Architect R. Drayton Fair (glasses) talking about the mural in the children's section of the new library.
Elaine Sistare and Mayor Barney Seney.