On Friday, May 24, from 5 to 7 PM, Southampton Village and the Southampton History Museum will host a celebration for the Village of Southampton Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events and the recent improvements made to Veterans Hall over the last few months.
The evening will consist of Village veterans in attendance, some bringing memorabilia from their years of service, as well as military artifacts, photos, and Memorial Day information from the Southampton History Museum for all to view. Additionally, veterans will share stories of their service in a casual “town hall” format. Light refreshments will also be provided courtesy of Thyme and Again.
Visitors can see the work that has been done on the building. Some of that includes new floors in bathrooms upstairs and on the first floor between Veterans Hall and the Cultural Center, upgraded toilets in all bathrooms, a new floor in the kitchen and barroom area, a new ice machine, a new energy-efficient boiler, a new air conditioning replacement, painting, and a new roof.
Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger and the Southampton Village Board of Trustees have initiated the repairs to preserve the historic building, which serves as a meeting place for residents, including the Village of Southampton Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events.
According to the Southampton History Museum, a report in 1979 referred to the building as The Shelter Club/Agawam Hall. Its initial construction was in 1911 when it was built out of concrete and steel. In 1911, it was referred to as a new fireproof “opera house” built by private citizens. The design includes a two-and-a-half-story gable roof temple-style structure with a projecting gable pediment supported on four slender columns.