The
Red House - History
by Judy Frankel
As many of you
know I have served on the Somerset Town Council
for some time, often acting as Vice President
of the Council. This has given me an opportunity
to observe the many changes that have taken place
in our Town over the years.
First, let me start
with some history of the Red House.
When my family and I came to Somerset in 1967,
there was no Town Hall. The Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer
worked on Town business from their homes and kept
the Town records there. Town meetings were usually
held in the Somerset elementary school, occasionally
in the neighborhood, and in the summers of 1976-1980
at the pool house. This was not a desirable location
because of the heat and bugs.
The Red
House was built as a residence in 1902.
The Town acquired it in 1965 as part of the parkland
tract purchased to act as a buffer against development
in the area. At that time the house was rented
to the Center for Autistic Children, which renovated
it for use as a school and research center. The
Center stayed until 1980 when the Council approved
the renovation of the building to create a Town
Hall for Somerset, which was dedicated on July
4, 1982. The Town Hall office was initially open
three days each week. In 1995, when the Town engaged
a full time Clerk-Treasurer and part-time bookkeeper,
the office, as now, remained open five days a
week.
Town staff work
load increased over the years as new projects
and services were initiated, the Town became more
heavily involved in issues taking place in the
surrounding area, and volunteers required more
support. There were more permit applications for
staff and the building engineer to review; there
were conferences with architects; there were always
contracts to review for the pool, care of trees,
beautification plans, and general maintenance,
all of which created more traffic. We acquired
computers and the necessary technology to administer
a modern-day Town. This meant more space was needed.
I often wondered if the ensuing crowding and the
traffic created in the office meant we still needed
even more staff and work space. But the Council
and our dedicated staff adapted to the situation,
always striving to retain the wonderful ambiance
of Somerset.
Have you ever noticed
a bad odor when you visited the Town Hall? Animals
(raccoons, rats, possums and who knows what else)
get under the building and die. We cannot reach
them to remove the carcass and the foul odor pervades
the entire building for weeks at a time, which
is an extreme discomfort for staff and visitors.
The meeting room
is less than satisfactory. The acoustics make
it very difficult to hear what is being said.
Experts have been consulted, remediation has been
tried, yet I and many others I’m sure, have
difficulty hearing what is being said no matter
where I sit. I know I’ve missed many things
whether sitting up front or in the audience, in
a small or a large group.
Serious consideration
should also be given to eliminating the steps
up to the meeting room to bring it down to the
same level as the rest of the building, thus making
it more accessible for those with disabilities.
Now we are faced
with structural problems and system failures that
also require our attention.
Whatever course
of action we decide must, I believe, provide for
a safe, comfortable building that will meet the
needs of our Town for the foreseeable future,
that will enable us to deliver the kind of service
that our residents deserve and expect, and help
continue the historic character of Somerset.
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