Amagansett rallies to repair Scoville Hall

A devastating fire ripped through Scoville Hall in Amagansett last month, destroying a meeting place but rallying a community around the First Presbyterian Church that owns the historic building.

Scoville Hall, built in 1925, housed the church's Sunday school, dining facility, food pantry and pastoral offices. But it also hosted many community groups, both religious and secular, that include Weight Watchers and Alcoholics Anonymous, whose daily meetings at Scoville Hall can draw 250 people in the summer months. The Spanish-speaking Church of the Nazarene worships there on Sunday nights.

The building was gutted in the Oct. 15 fire, said the Rev. Steven Howarth, pastor of First Presbyterian.

"The whole building has to be demolished and rebuilt," he said. "We really did see it as an asset to the community. There is so little public space available."

He and other church officials hope to be able to build a structure with all the groups' needs in mind.

Some of the groups were able to relocate, either across the street in extra space at the church's sanctuary or to other sites. However, all have expressed an interest in seeing the hall rebuilt and returning there to meet, said Howarth. Those local groups, as well as other members of the community, have been dropping by to give donations. Next month, the Star of the East Masonic Lodge in Amagansett, which met in the hall, will hold a spaghetti dinner to raise money.

"The response has been overwhelming," Howarth said. "At least 150 or more messages and emails, and on Facebook, that's not to mention those that have approached me."

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Among the groups to use the sanctuary was Church of the Nazarene. Finding itself without a place to call home five years ago, it has been holding Sunday night services at Scoville Hall, with up to 100 people attending, Howarth said.

Howarth said a report from the fire marshal deemed the blaze an electrical fire. He added that, thanks to the quick work of the Amagansett and neighboring fire departments, the church's records, dating to the 1860s, were saved. But the Star of the East Masonic Lodge lost the first Bible issued to its organization, as well as membership records, antique furniture and paintings. The Church of the Nazarene lost electronics and documents, too.

Arlene Hallock, wife of Ken Hallock -- a lodge member and organizer of the spaghetti dinner -- said the group hopes to return to the building once it is rebuilt.

"We're hoping to do 300 dinners," she said.

Howarth estimated it could be about 18 months before the rebuilding is complete.

The spaghetti dinner is from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Amagansett Fire Department. Prices are $15 per adult and $7 for children, and include salad and dessert.