Printer Friendly Version - Essex Veterans Memorial Hall Breaks Ground on Expansion and Renovation Project

Recognizes The Essex Foundation and Community for $100,000 Grant Award, Others for In-kind Donations

Essex Veterans Memorial Hall (EVMH) members Paul Knudsen and John Lee, along with The Essex Foundation board members Strickland Hyde and Judy Bombaci and EVMH president Art Davies, break ground on the hall’s expansion and renovation project funded by a community matching gift effort and in-kind donations. A model of the finished expansion work is displayed to the right. Photo courtesy of Susan Daniels

Essex Veterans Memorial Hall president Art Davies looks on as Paul Knudsen presents an overview of the hall’s expansion project to guests at the recent groundbreaking ceremony in Centerbrook. Photo courtesy of Susan Daniels

On Jan. 12, members of the Essex Veterans Memorial Hall (EVMH) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and renovation of the building that serves as a resource for 180 members, their families, and the greater community.

EVMH President Art Davies welcomed guests and thanked all who helped make the ambitious project possible. Special recognition was given to The Essex Foundation for its matching gift fundraising campaign that resulted in a $100,000 grant award with $50,000 from community donors matched by $50,000 from the foundation. Doane Engineering, Ring’s End, and architect Jerry Karpuska were also acknowledged for their generous in-kind donations of services and materials.

House Committee Chair Paul Knudsen, who is overseeing the construction, provided an overview of the work, which includes enlarging and renovating the kitchen, adding a new porch and outdoor dining area, installing a new roof and ADA accessible ramp, and updating the meeting room interior. Hall members will provide most of the volunteer labor, while the $100,000 award will be used to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and specialized labor.

The ceremony commenced with the presentation of the flag by the EVMH Color Guard, followed by the “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Community Music School Executive Director and retired Coast Guard Warrant Officer Richard Wyman on saxophone. An invocation and moment of silence was presented by Reverend David Stambaugh of Essex Congregational Church. Karen Baron then performed “America the Beautiful” on violin. Strickland Hyde of The Essex Foundation acknowledged and thanked the community for its tremendous outpouring of support that helped reach the $100,000 mark in less than six months. After the closing remarks, guests were invited to pick up a shovel for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Essex Veterans Memorial Hall is the last known standalone, 501(c)(19) nonprofit veterans’ organization on the East Coast. After World War II, the Town of Essex conveyed the Centerbrook Schoolhouse to the group for $1 with the stipulation that the organization remain intact and take full responsibility for maintaining the building. Located at 3 Westbrook Road, it is available for use free of charge to other nonprofit groups for meetings and activities. Non-members can rent the space for special events and celebrations. The Essex Foundation, Inc. is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Essex citizens by providing support for new services and needs not met by other charitable organizations. More information can be found at TheEssexFoundation.org.