HEATH — Members of the Community Hall Windows Fundraising Committee are urging residents from Heath and beyond to join in their effort to restore the windows of the cherished building.

Having recently commemorated the building’s 150th anniversary since its initial construction, residents aspire for Community Hall to remain the focal point of culture in the town for generations to come.

Varying degrees of disrepair afflict the 10 windows in need of attention. Some suffer from missing panes of glass. All of the windows are old and challenging to open, with most having broken ropes attached to them.

“Community Hall windows have been an ongoing concern,” said Bob Gruen, chair of the Community Hall Windows Fundraising Committee.

Rather than opt for a modern replacement for the windows, the town seeks historical restoration work.

“We want to maintain the historical integrity of the building,” Gruen added.

Heath’s town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and preserving Community Hall aligns with the historic character of the area.

Community Hall was originally constructed as a Methodist church in 1872 and became Union Church in 1892 before being converted into Community Hall by the Historical Society in 1923. The building has continued to serve various community functions.

However, the closure of the building last fall for mold remediation has prevented its use since then. In recent years, the town has undertaken several projects to update the kitchen, bathrooms and front steps while preserving its historic appearance.

Town Coordinator Hilma Sumner secured a grant from the Cultural Facilities Fund administered by MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council last fall. It requires a $17,000 matching contribution from Heath, making for $34,000 total.

To kick-start fundraising efforts, volunteers formed the Community Hall Windows Fundraising Committee, which currently has four members and one vacancy. Their goal is to raise the $17,000 grant match by early 2025.

Since November, the committee has raised $6,602, about one-third of its goal. The fundraiser’s progress is visibly tracked on a large poster in town, with an image of a window being gradually filled in as funds are collected.

Plans for fundraising events are underway, including an online challenge proposed by an anonymous donor who pledges $1,000 if the committee can raise an additional $1,000 within a specified timeframe.

Gruen emphasized the communal effort behind the project, highlighting the involvement of town officials, volunteers and donors.

“It has taken the entire town to get this work off the ground,” he remarked.

To donate online, visit townofheath.org/g/72/Community-Hall-Fundraising. Alternatively, send checks payable to “Town of Heath” with “CH Windows” written in the memo line to Town of Heath, P.O. Box 35, Heath, MA 01346, or drop them off at Sumner’s office at the Jacobs Road Municipal Center. Checks can also be placed in the gray town box at Sawyer Hall to the right of the Post Office.