02/26/2026
Friends of the North Brookfield Town House — Courtesy
The Summer Steet side of the North Brookfield Town House where a basement will be the focus of a planned renovation project.
Friends of North Brookfield Town House plan basement renovation
BY JASON BLEAU
CORRESPONDENT
NORTH BROOKFIELD — The Friends of the North Brookfield Town House are preparing to embark on the first phase of a renovation of the historic Town House which serves as the community’s town hall.
Since 2006, the Friends of the North Brookfield Town House has dedicated its time to restoring and maintaining the building, and on Feb. 10, they received the blessing of the Board of Selectmen to proceed with early portions of a renovation, starting with the basement floor accessible from Summer Street.
Jim Buzzell, President of the Friends, said the organization has spent years preparing for construction on some portions of the building, and after meeting with consultants they determined a strategy that might help ensure better opportunities for grant funding.
“We get the same recommendation from almost every one of those people we talk to, and that’s when we’re ready for construction to try to do it so that we can open a portion of the building to the public. It’s a great first step,” said Buzzell. “It demonstrates the viability of the project. It tends to gather a lot of support from the community and, most importantly, impresses both large- and small-scale funders. It makes it much more likely you’re going to get grants for the success of your project.”
They determined their first focus will be on the basement which would include floor repairs, wall and ceiling upgrades, probable ADA compliance updates, the possibility of adding a new bathroom, and work on a stone wall on the eastern section. Once completed the basement would serve to host meetings and small community events. The basement section would be blocked off to visitors during construction.
Buzzell said the Friends were seeking the blessing of the selectmen to explore the feasibility of the project, allowing them to talk with local inspectors and the Massachusetts Historical Society before proceeding with the work. He made it clear that the project would not require any funding on the town’s part.
"We’re not going to ask the town for any money for this project. The money will come from grants or other fundraising efforts,” Buzzell explained. “We have a grant that we’re targeting that we feel like we have a good opportunity to be awarded that would probably pay for most if not the entirety this particular project.”
Selectmen gave them the go ahead to proceed with the process. Once the Friends of the North Brookfield Town House have consulted with appropriate parties, they will need to go back before selectmen to receive approval to pursue outside funds for the project.
