The town of Wilton will be partnering with the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension to create an action plan for the town's economic development. (Ashley Saari / Monadnock Ledger-Transcript)

WILTON – At their regular meeting on Monday, May 16, the Select Board formally accepted a grant of $4.500 from the N. H. Preservation Alliance. The funds will be used for the development of an assessment and evaluation of the historic Town Hall. The plan will serve as blueprint for future maintenance and preservation.

A report will be done with the town’s contractor, Preservation Consultant Lisa Mausolf. It will include a review of the building’s history, an assessment of its current physical condition, and recommendation for future maintenance and repair.

The completed “Existing Conditions Report” will provide town officials and the public with information and a cultural link between past and future. It will help officials prioritize spending on the building and provide the foundation for potential grants through sources like Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP).

The town hall, located on Main Street, was completed in 1885, designed by the firm of Merrill & Cutler. The red rick building with a n iconic clock tower is an example of civic Queen Anne architecture. It was placed on the National register of Historic Places in 2009.

It houses the town’s administrative offices on the Main Street level, and the Town Hall Theater on the Maple Street, or upper, level. The theater space, once used for town meetings, hosted dramatic presentations, silent films, and vaudeville productions. The theater will celebrate 50 years in 2023.

For more information, contact Town Administrator Nick Germain at WiltonTA@wiltonnh.gov or 603-654-3299.