Melrose is the location of one of the most unusual performance centers on the North Shore. The gray granite building is located at 590 Main Street next to the City Hall and Central Fire Station. The building, which is a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War, was dedicated on Dec. 14, 1912. Its construction was watched with much interest and favorable comments were made on the simple yet dignified interior and exterior of the building.

Memorial Hall offers a splendid setting for social, artistic, cultural, and political events. With a seating capacity of 900, the auditorium of the building houses a large stage measuring 30' x 40', dressing rooms, and a public address system, and has installed on the rear of the stage a grand organ, similar in construction and musical expression to an organ in the Municipal Building in Portland, Maine. This organ was a memorial to the World War I veterans and was dedicated in 1919.

In the upstairs portion of the building is a room referred to as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall (GAR), which has a seating capacity of 60 to 150 and an adjacent kitchen facility. This room is for the patriotic remembrance of the brave soldiers and sailors of Melrose and the purpose of this grand building. John Slayton, who donated the building to the city and was chairman of the building committee in 1912, was given much praise by the city and its citizens for his work that resulted in the completion of the building

A resurgence of interest has resulted in a community that is interested in restoring this valuable asset. Groups such as the Melrose Rotary Club and the Melrose Symphony Orchestra call the Memorial Building their home. Other community groups also use the building for their annual events and fund-raisers. With the continued local and state support, Melrose hopes to restore this beautiful building.

The resurgence of interest in Memorial Hall culminated in the development of a Master Plan in 1995, which set the stage for a series of restoration projects. The Master Plan identified over $4 million dollars worth of improvements necessary to make the building weather-tight, restore important historical features and improve the building's functionality.

Since 1996, three phases of restoration work have been completed. Memorial Hall has been made handicapped accessible with the provision of an elevator, new entrance doors, accessible bathroom facilities, and improved ramps and railings. A new roof has been installed along with new copper flashing. In addition, the flagpoles atop the building which have long been an important symbol of the building's significance as a war memorial, have been restored and the flags illuminated.

The fourth phase of work, which was completed in June 2000, represents another major effort to make the building weather-tight. The masonry joints were re-pointed to prevent further water infiltration into the building and windows and doors have been restored. This project also included several components that will improve the look and serviceability of the building: the granite facade has been thoroughly cleaned and the basement bathrooms have been fully built out with the number of facilities necessary for a building of this size.

Over $1.4 million dollars has been invested in Memorial Hall over the past five years to accomplish these goals. Approximately half a million dollars has come from grant funding through the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the state agency responsible for historic preservation; the remainder has been funded through the City's Capital Improvement Program. These efforts have paid dividends in terms of making the building more accessible to the public and ensuring the building's preservation as a community treasure long into the future. They also serve as a catalyst for raising funds for additional restoration work needed to accomplish all of the goals outlined in the Master Plan.

Memorial Hall is overseen by a group of trustees appointed by the Mayor, who includes at least three veterans, and it is run by a paid executive director. Whether it is a musical performance, theater group, business meeting, dance recital or craft fair, all you need do is call (781) 979-4185 for rental information and scheduling. There's plenty of parking in the adjacent City Hall parking lot.

Links of Interest

 Melrose Symphony Orchestra Homepage