The Warren Preservation Society announced on Monday that it was working with the Town of Warren to help raise funds for the dismantling and restoration of the north chimney of Warren Town Hall, which has deteriorated to the point of becoming a safety hazard.

“Help us save our Town Hall chimney!” begins a press release from the Preservation Society, which went out on Monday. “The Warren Preservation Society is working with the town to raise funds for the restoration of the north chimney on the Town Hall. It has deteriorated and become a health and safety issue, so it will be dismantled soon! The chimney is no longer in use, however it is a major architectural feature of this historic building. The other chimneys need work as well, but hopefully, there will be time to write and secure grants for those repairs.”

The Town Council heard a report on the chimney during their February meeting from Building Official Matt Cabral.

“The chimney is not functional anymore,” Cabral said at the time. “Water is coming all the way down into the [Town] Clerk’s office, causing damage. The top of the chimney has a hole from prior use, a cap at one time is not there any more.”

Cabral said that Fire Chief James Sousa and DPW Director Brian Wheeler temporarily capped the top to prevent more water from coming in, but the dilapidated sides of the brick structure were still a possible entry point for more water to get into the building and cause more damage.

“Moving forward our recommendation is we bring it down to a level that is safe,” Cabral said. “The way it is now, the height causes a potential safety hazard in the future of toppling over.”

With the untenable state of Warren’s finances, funding the project would not be so simple. Enter the Preservation Society.

The release indicates that the Warren Historic Commission approved the dismantling of the chimney under the following conditions: That it be photographed, measured, and drawn for its accurate rebuilding; that it be dismantled carefully, with all bricks and brownstone pieces safely stored for re-use later; and that the timeline of the work will be forwarded to the Commission as it becomes clear.

“Estimates are being gathered from professional masonry companies,” the release continued. “The biggest expense will be the staging and chimney dismantling at ~$70,000, which the Town must cover due to the health and safety concerns. The estimate to rebuild the chimney is an additional ~$40,000, with the staging still in place. However, due to the Town’s grim financial situation, that is not in the budget so we urgently need your help.”

The Warren Preservation Society has set up a fund to accept donations to help repair the chimney while staging for the work is set up. The Preservation Society has already pledged $10,000 towards the cause. Other major pledges include Eileen Collins and Brandt Heckert ($2,500); The Massasoit Historical Association ($2,000); Save Water Street ($1,000); and Pat Read ($1,000).

“If any organization, business, or individual would like to make a pledge towards this important restoration, please do so as soon as possible,” the release stated. “Time is short, so please send an email with your pledge to: info@preservewarren.org.”

Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto summarized the need to move quickly on the work.

“This is about public safety and that’s a concern of mine,” he said. “If somebody gets bonked on the head with a brick and we get a lawsuit, we know what that does to town finances.”

About the chimney and Town Hall
Per the Preservation Society’s press release:

“The grand Town Hall building in Warren, Rhode Island was built in 1890 by designs from Providence architectural firm of William R. Walker & Son. William Russell Walker (1830-1905) was one of the most prominent – if not the most prominent – architect in the cities and towns around Providence in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Walker established himself as an architect after the Civil War, where he designed many mills, large homes and commercial buildings all over the region. The amazing blending of styles and materials including: brick, granite, brownstone, and terra cotta together work to make the eclectic building one of the finest in town.”