The Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association in Dartmouth has undertaken the arduous task of replacing its aging Quonset hut housing the W1AEC club station.
According to club historical records on its web site, SEMARA “purchased three acres of land at the present location (54 Donald Street) in South Dartmouth, MA in 1955. […] The original Quonset hut club house formally was a restaurant called “Wally’s Hut” on Rockdale avenue just east of Dartmouth Street. It cost more to move it than to buy it!”
Club members recently pitched in at several work sessions to move all of the material from the hut to a storage trailer and the club’s main building housing its meeting room. A temporary W1AEC station has been set up in the latter facility.
According to SEMARA’s Buildings and Grounds Chairman, Mike Miller, N1ITQ, “The club should be realizing substantial savings in heating costs … the vents and ductwork had been repaired, and the heat had been shut off to the hut now that it is empty.”
New Building Chairman Dave Dean, K1JGV estimates that it will cost the club approximately $3400 for total removal of the hut and permits needed. Dean says he “has a commitment from a contractor to knock down and remove the debris from the property for $2500.” The rest of the expenditure would be for fees, and environmental inspections. The estimate for the total demolition of the buildings standing would be $9300.
SEMARA has held numerous discussions and special meetings to consider all opinions from the membership. Committee members stress that “no demolition would be actually undertaken” until the membership had voted on which proposal it wishes to ultimately pursue. A full proposal is expected to be presented to SEMARA members at its May meeting.