Town Hall Kitchen May Be Cooking By December

By Kendra Bobowick

Strains of Southern rock music echoed against the plaster walls and across the open floor of the Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room during the afternoon of April 18. Dusty work boots stamped a path across the polished hardwood leading straight toward the sounds of a Lynard Skynard song. On the other side of a door separating the large banquet hall and stage is a kitchen and breezeway where renovation work to upgrade the facility has recently begun.

Working alone with his radio for company was local carpenter Michael Manka, surrounded by power tools and a stepladders propped beside the original wooden cabinets that had been built onsite for the kitchen in 1928, according to Town Hall Board of Managers member James Juliano. The building was complete several years later, but not in time for benefactress Mary Hawley to see it open for business.

Mr Juliano is spearheading kitchen renovations. With help from the town hall maintenance crew, Mr Manka had dismantled the cabinets in past days, removed them from their places along the kitchen walls, and set them up in a neighboring room where they will remain. New, code-compliant stainless steel cabinets will soon take their place in the upgraded facility — and this is just the first of many phases of work leading to a completely refurbished, working kitchen.

“We want the old one out and a new one in,” said board Chairman Jay Gill. The kitchen’s code compliance has long expired. The longer explanation for the kitchen renovation work has to do with the building’s future as town plans progress to relocate the municipal offices now occupying the 70-plus-year-old building left behind by Ms Hawley. “Once the town moves out, we want a spot that’s going to be a main source of income.” The kitchen is far from what it once was, Mr Gill knows.

He hears the long-ago footfalls of sequined dancers enjoying a wedding or other celebration, and then sitting down to dinner. “Our ultimate goal is to restore [the kitchen] to its original luster and to modernize. We hope for the banquets and catering it was originally intended for.” He remembers the plays and weddings and annual breakfasts once served from that kitchen.

The past few days have seen the start of work that could soon find the Newtown Rotary Club’s annual, early December Pancake Breakfast back in the kitchen using the stovetop, rather than setting up transportable cooking surfaces to pour their traditional short stacks. Maybe a company awards ceremony, family celebration, or fundraising gala could occupy the space. Also at the head of the room is a small stage and piano — making the hall suitable for a sit-down-dinner and performance.

 

Step By Step

Mr Juliano said that the entire renovation costs to bring the kitchen up to code is an estimated $150,000. The price entails appliances including an industrial stove, sinks, ventilation, rewiring and plumbing, along with plastering, painting, and installing a fire door and range hood. Thinking of the high ceilings, central island, and pass-through front window in the industrial kitchen, Mr Juliano confirmed, “Absolutely, it needs to be gutted…” Work — starting with the cabinets and moving to the plaster repairs and painting the walls — will continue as funds become available. Already roughly $11,000 is in the bank, thanks to CD funds from prior donations to the managers.

Recently established is the Mary Hawley Society, which is a nonprofit entity devoted to supporting town hall efforts beginning with the kitchen project. Civic groups from the Newtown Woman’s Club to Rotary members to Lions Club members have expressed interest in supporting the project. Individuals interested in helping to purchase a particular piece of equipment or simply contribute to the project can contact Mary Hawley Society member Don Studley at 426-3651. Between Mr Gill and Mr Juliano, the kitchen has been designed and the work priced out, respectively. Mr Juliano has spent past months speaking with contractors and spearheading the work. The end result will be a kitchen that adapts to different needs. “We’ll open the middle and tables will [be able] to move so people can come in and configure it any way they want to maximize the space.”

The renovation work has a high standard to follow.

As Mr Manka worked Friday, he expressed amazement at how the town hall and kitchen are “overbuilt.” “There is no wood [construction],” he said. “I haven’t seen it anywhere.”

His point?

Explaining the layer of stone dust clinging to his boots, he noted the construction of the walls — which had to come apart in places to disengage the cabinets. “It’s terra cotta block and plaster,” he said. In short, the building is sturdy beyond necessity. Despite the hard work involved in pulling the cabinets from the kitchen and reestablishing them in the room next door, he appreciates the chance to work on the historic building.

“I would rather work on this any day, it’s a challenge,” Mr Manka said.