A public listening session on the future of the Reverend Morrison Meeting House drew a wide range of ideas on April 27, with suggestions spanning from demolition to a full renovation that would bring the historic structure back up to code.
“I was tasked with coming up with all options in regards to what to do next with the Meeting House,” said Town Manager Shaun Mulholland. “My job is to provide a memo with all of the options, the pros and cons of each, and then it will be up to the Town Council to make a decision.”
Also known as Lions Hall, the Morrison House was built between 1760 and 1770. The building has been closed to the public since August 2025 due to mold, structural issues with the floor, a failing fire suppression system, a non-permitted septic system, and inadequate ADA access. Two warrant articles seeking $3.3 million for repairs failed during the March 2026 election. Despite that setback, many residents attended the session to advocate for saving the building.
“This is about the history of Londonderry,” said resident Ray Breslin. “We don’t have many historical buildings left. We’ve got a couple of churches, we’ve got the Grange Hall, and we’ve got the Reverend Morrison House.”
Breslin acknowledged the cost of repairs but urged the town to pursue grants, noting that a similar building in Salem secured partial state funding for restoration. He also suggested donations and short-term stabilization work to prevent further deterioration. “Repairs that were done previously were not done properly,” he added. “We have a problem with moisture. Moisture causes rot.”
Heritage Commission member Dave Ellis noted that the town has “no money available for this for the next year,” but said addressing a few immediate issues and “mothballing” the building could be a more affordable interim solution than restoring it for full public use.
Resident Kristine Perez offered an idea inspired by European preservation practices. “They maintain the fronts of many historical buildings,” she said. “They preserve the look of the building to be exactly the same, and they preserve a lot of the things inside, but in the back it’s a new building. It’s just another thought.” It was unclear whether such an approach would be cost effective.
Other suggestions included opening part of the building as a “country store,” seeking placement on the state historic register, and removing “Reverend” from the name to avoid any perception that restoration efforts were tied to a religious purpose. The Arts Council also expressed interest in using the space.
“That building built this community that we all live in,” said resident Kathy Wagner. “It’s been here long before any of us, and it will be here forever if we take care of it.” She added that outreach has been a persistent challenge, especially among newer residents who may not attend public meetings.
“This can’t be the last meeting like this,” said resident John Wilson. “We have to structure things, get organized, and set everything up. All the things we’ve tried, all the people we’ve talked to need to be pooled together into one place.”
No date was set for a follow-up session, but both the Town Manager and residents agreed that additional meetings are likely in the coming months as the Town Council considers next steps.