Hampton Ready to Demolish Old Courthouse

The old Hampton District Court will soon be demolished now that a contracted company has removed the asbestos from within the crumbling building.

Town Manager Fred Welch confirmed Monday that the asbestos removal work has been completed, although he said the town is "sort of stopped from doing anything further" until the "complete" asbestos report is finalized, a step he said is required by federal law.

That doesn't mean the timeline for the removal of the courthouse hasn't progressed, though, as Welch said he expects the structure will likely be razed before the tourism season is in full swing.

"There is no date set because we're waiting for that report, but we anticipate that it will be done by the end of May," said Welch. "That's an anticipation — that's not a guarantee."

The Hampton Board of Selectmen authorized last month a $5,950 bid for removal of the mold-ridden structure's asbestos, as well as a $24,900 bid to raze and remove the entire building and its foundation as part of a town meeting-approved project.

An additional $1,450 in town meeting funds was also reserved in the chance that other asbestos is found within the building beyond what the initial sweep covers.

The old Hampton District Court building, located at the corner of Winnacunnet Road and Academy Avenue, has been closed since 2005 due to black mold and other issues. The structure was erected in 1873, and at different times has also housed the old Hampton Grammar School, American Legion and the Hampton Fire Department.

The town has been contemplating options for the old courthouse's reuse for year. Ideas like a community center, fire station and town office building for Hampton Parks and Recreation and other departments were ruled out because officials have estimated it would cost $800,000 alone in demolition and renovation hard costs just to make the building usable.

Lane Memorial Library staff and volunteers have photographed the inside of the building for historical purposes, according to Assistant Library Director Bill Teschek. Antique glass insulators used for the building's fire alarm system have been salvaged, as have historical fire department signs. Welch has also said other salvageable and uncontaminated historical items would also be removed before the building is demolished, but not before the asbestos mitigation was performed.

"It will be very difficult to empty due to the stairs in the building, but we can empty it," said Welch last month, adding that many of the chairs and other items in the building are "absolutely filthy."