Scoville Hall Fund-Raiser

    Spaghetti and meatballs will be on the plate at the first fund-raiser to help restore Scoville Hall in Amagansett, which was destroyed by fire on Oct. 15. Sponsored by the Order of the Eastern Star of the Masons, who held meetings at the hall, the dinner will be held at the Amagansett Fire House on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.

    According to Ron Fleming, an elder of the Amagansett Presbyterian Church and a member of its buildings and grounds committee, the church is “waiting for the insurance adjusters to come to an agreement as to what is going to be done. They’re arguing whether or not the whole thing should be torn down, including the foundation.”

    “A builder thought they could save the foundation, and if that’s the case, we can save the first floor,” Mr. Fleming said. “The beams on the first floor were not damaged. The oak floor above it was burnt up in front, and the rest is water damage.” The insurance company had originally told the committee the building was a total loss.

    Preliminary investigation has determined that the fire started in a light fixture in the entranceway to two bathrooms in the basement. It made its way through the floor, into the walls, and then up into the attic. “All of the equipment, everything in the hall, was a total loss,” said Mr. Fleming.

    Several East Hampton community groups have offered to hold fund-raisers for rebuilding.

    There is a positive aspect to the restoration. The hall will have to be upgraded and brought up to current code. The kitchen will have to be certified by the Suffolk County Health Department, so it can be used for catering. “We have three different groups that are anxious to get a professional kitchen in there,” Mr. Fleming said. There will be walk-in freezers, an elevator, and a sprinkler system. Scoville Hall pre-existed the zoning code, and these modern updates will provide a necessary safety component.

    “Supposedly we have a very good insurance policy. It will pay for upgrades, loss of income, and bringing things up to code,” said Mr. Fleming, including the wheelchair ramp, which was too steep.

    “All of this we have to do within the present footprint,” Mr. Fleming said. “The town won’t let us expand the building unless it undergoes a site plan. If that happens, it’ll take at least a year to get the permit.”

    Tickets for Saturday’s dinner are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children, and are available at the door, or in advance at [email protected]. All proceeds will go toward the restoration of the hall.