Several quotes from the old Register-Herald provide a glimpse into how Memorial Hall barely survived town sentiment many years ago, making the accomplishment of creating The Stissing Center all the more remarkable.
From the Register-Herald, January 26, 1947
“AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF MEMORIAL HALL, IT WAS VOTED TO TURN THE HALL OVER TO THE TOWN OF PINE PLAINS. THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.”
February 10, 1947
“THE TOWN BOARD AT THE REGULAR MEETING CONSIDERED THE RECOMMENDATION PRESENTED TO IT LAST YEAR AT A PUBLIC MEETING TO ACCEPT MEMORIAL HALL FOR THE TOWN. THE TOWN DECLINED THE PROJECT, SAYING THAT THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATION INVOLVED WOULD NOT MEET THE TAXPAYERS APPROVAL.”
October 19, 1948
“BY A VOTE OF 86 TO 59, THE GIFT OF MEMORIAL HALL WAS VOTED AS NOT ACCEPTABLE BY THE TAXPAYERS OF PINE PLAINS AS A TOWN HALL AND ASSET. THIS IS ABOUT 50% OF THE ELIGIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO CAME OUT TO VOTE. THE HALL WILL CONTINUE UNDER A TRUSTEESHIP AS WAS SET UP WHEN THE HALL WAS PRESENTED FOR TOWN BENEFIT AND USE BY THE SAUNDERS FAMILY IN 1914.”
November 12, 1958
“MOVIES HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AT MEMORIAL HALL. NO HEAT IS AVAILABLE DUE TO A CRACK IN THE BOILER.”
December 19, 1967
“AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD, A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THEREBY TRANSFERRING MEMORIAL HALL TO THE TOWN.”
June 5, 1969
“THE PINE PLAINS TOWN BOARD HAS RECEIVED FROM THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBLE USE OF MEMORIAL HALL. THEY STATE THAT AFTER STUDYING ALL POSSIBILITIES THE RENOVATION OF THE HALL IS NOT FEASIBLE AND THAT THE ONLY FINANCIALLY SOUND CONCLUSION IS THAT THE BUILDING BE TORN DOWN AND THE SITE LEVELED.”
Thanks to Mike Manning for mining the old newspaper files.