Rumsey Hall's final chapter: demolition

CORNWALL — Rumsey Hall will soon be nothing more than a well-documented part of history. The grand, pillared, 1848 building in the village center, built initially as a gymnasium and owned by a succession of private schools, has been condemned.

The Board of Selectmen, Building Official Paul Prindle and Town Attorney Perley Grimes have been working on moving forward quickly with demolition of the structure, which is literally falling down and has been deemed a safety hazard.

At a meeting with the involved parties last week, owner Andrew Hingson said he does not have the funds for a demolition. Hingson purchased Rumsey Hall from the town for $150,000 in the early 1990s, with the intention of restoring it.

Anticipating that response, town officials were already seeking bids and beginning the legal process needed for the town to foot the bill.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said this week there was “a bit more homework to do,� but things would move quickly. A town meeting where voters will consider a funding appropriation will likely be held in September.

Meanwhile, a chain-link fence has been erected around Rumsey, to increase safety and reduce liability. Signs warn people to stay away.

The small crowd that came to the Aug. 2  Board of Selectmen meeting at Town Hall demanded to know what plans are being made. They were advised then that, once the town has completed the legalities of condemning the building, things could move quickly. All asbestos has been removed, and lead levels are very low. Special precautions will not likely be needed.

During both August selectmen’s meetings, the board and residents talked informally about the reality of the situation. Lack of maintenance by the owner has taken its toll. Ridgway said the 1989 tornado that blew off most of the roof probably marked the beginning of the end.

There was a prolonged and unsuccessful attempt during the eight years the town owned the building to find a viable use for it.

The consensus now is that, while a restoration is preferable, the most reasonable solution is a demolition,which will make way for something to be built on the well-located, nicely sized property that would be more in tune with the current needs of the town.

Even though the town may have to foot the bill for the demoition, a resulting lien on the property for those costs might be easily satisfied by the significant value of the property as a new building site.

Use of the land under current zoning regulations is an issue that remains to be investigated. Hingson will retain ownership of the land and a small residence toward the rear. The foundation stones will be removed and the hole filled in. It is an R1 zone, making it residential, but with an overlay zone that may be applied, as it was to other buildings that used to be part of the Marvelwood School.

Ridgway said this will allow for some leeway, to avoid vacancies for the large buildings. He said it’s likely that, although the nonresidential use is nonconforming, such a use might still be permissible, so long as a new structure does not exceed the Rumsey Hall footprint.