OTISFIELD — The Old Town House may be moved back onto a foundation this week.

Henry Hamilton, president of the Otisfield Historical Society, said if road conditions are good, the building will be moved Thursday.

The 1905 building on Bell Hill Road was moved to the side several weeks ago to have a foundation poured. Since then, the town has posted the road against heavy equipment and vehicle use due to spring thawing. Officials must now make sure there will be no road damage when equipment goes the short distance from Route 121 to the Old Town House site.

The building was deeded to the Otisfield Historical Society by voters in 2009, after it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

The society is restoring it to make it the headquarters for the society, a repository for the town’s archives and a venue for town activities.

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has worked with the society to ensure that the changes will not jeopardize its inclusion on the National Register.

The project is being supervised by general contractor Ken Bartow Construction of Otisfield.

The building replaced an earlier one at the same location and was used for town meetings, selectman’s meeting and a polling place. It was also used as a social and meeting hall through the 1920s, but in 1985 town meetings were moved to the current municipal building, according to information from Maine Historic Preservation Commission records. Voting continued at the town house until 2002, when the building was closed to public use.

Hamilton said the other phases include a cellar floor, an addition on the back, a well, a septic system, electrical work, plumbing, a furnace, a new roof and final site work.

Donations for the restoration may be sent to the Otisfield Historical Society, c/o Henry Hamilton, 877 State Route 121, Otisfield, ME 04270.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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