About the Friends of
The North Brookfield Town House
The Friends, a non profit, 501(C)3 organization, was organized in 2006 with the purpose of raising funds and promoting public support and awareness for the renovation and restoration of the historic North Brookfield Town House and the Town House Great Hall in order for it to be a civic and cultural center for the town of North Brookfield and surrounding communities.
Our Board consists of nine members representing various businesses,and cultural organizations in the community. They bring a wealth of experiences to the organization and work together to make the Town House visible, alive, and a central part of our community.
The Friends host events, raise funds, write grants, and appeal to the local community as well as to foundations worldwide for support.
We showcase the Town House through tours, public brainstorming events, and participation in local festivals such as North Brookfield’s May Festival and National Night Out.
We have originated events like Art in the Park and our annual Fall Festival/Oktoberfest, our biggest fundraiser. Additionally, we host local artists, support the Cool Kids Choir, and collaborate with the North Brookfield Theater Guild.
Our Mission
Preserve the structural integrity of the Town House while retaining the important historical character and architectural design of the building in order to reestablish it as the center of civic, political, social, and cultural activities of North Brookfield and the Central Massachusetts Rural Region.
Our Vision and Goals
Our vision is to have the North Brookfield Town House restored and operational and a focal point of a revitalized downtown. The Town House could serve as a creative venue providing a space for all ventures, business and arts to thrive..
The Town House, owned by the Town of North Brookfield, is a historically significant building and an architectural masterpiece.
Our plan includes securing a long-term lease (39 years) for the building, with rental income from the basement and first floor sustaining the Great Hall on the second floor. We aim to work with surrounding towns and communities to showcase artists of all interests and talents, establishing the Town House as a regional creative cultural hub and fostering a creative economy to stimulate the area.
Our Journey
The North Brookfield Town House is a cornerstone of Main Street and one of the region's most historically significant buildings. Due to time, weather, and limited funding, the building was declared structurally unstable in 2002, leading to an emergency closure. However, the Friends, in collaboration with the Board of Selectmen, accessed DEP Brownfields program funds to clean up petroleum contamination, secured funding to restore and repair the bell, and garnered support from local legislators for roof and dormer work, making the building weather-tight. Recent funds have been secured to paint the building.
The Friends were organized in 2006 to raise funds, increase awareness, and support the Town House. Our early efforts included offering tours, hosting brainstorming sessions, and bringing off-Broadway productions to the community.
Over the years, we have helped secure funding through events, public and private grants, and extensive fundraising efforts, paving the way for the building’s restoration.
The Friends meeting is posted on the town and community bulletin boards. Email notifications will be sent to all parties on the Friends’ mailing list. The governing body of the Friends consists of president, vice president, treasurer, clerk, and board member at large. At the present time, all work of the Friends is done by their 100 members and a large number of volunteers.
Join us as we continue our journey to restore the North Brookfield Town House and reestablish it as a vibrant center for our community
Meet the Friends Leadership Team
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Jim Buzzell
President
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Maureen Caramiello
Vice President
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Marilynn Borst
Vice President
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Maureen Wesolaski
Clerk
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Trish Miller
Treasurer
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Eva Brown
Director at Large
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Sue Lewandowski
Director at Large
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Jean Underwood
Director at Large
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Brandon Avery
Director at Large
Our partners
Make a Donation
Join us in our mission to open the Town House restored and operational for use by the local community by contributing financially.
Your donation will support the ongoing renovation of the Town House in North Brookfield, and our efforts to build a creative economy in the Central MA rural region.
The Friends of the Town House (FOTH), is a 501(C)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.