In our words: why we do what we do…

“West Fairlee has been home to me and my family for my entire life, and Bean Hall has always been a part of that home. I’ve watched our community change over the years, but one thing has never changed — the importance of having places that bring people together.

Bean Hall is so much more than a building. It is a place where neighbors can gather, families can connect, friendships can grow, and people from West Fairlee and our surrounding communities can feel that they belong to something bigger than themselves.

I believe places like Bean Hall are especially important for the future of our small towns. Our children and grandchildren need a place where they can gather, participate, learn, celebrate, and grow up knowing what it means to be part of a community. They deserve the opportunity to build the same sense of connection and belonging that generations before them were fortunate enough to have.

Reopening Bean Hall isn’t only about preserving our past — it’s about investing in our future. It’s about creating a place that can bring generations together and strengthen not only West Fairlee, but the communities around us.

After a lifetime here, I believe one of the greatest things we can leave the next generation is a strong community and a place where they know they belong. Bean Hall can be that place.”

— Stuart “Tiger” Bacon, Lifelong West Fairlee Resident

“Our community deserves some services (like health care) and a place to create the connections that build community — Bean Hall did that and can do more.”

— Bonnie Cray, Lifelong West Fairlee Resident

“My kids were fortunate to move to town at a time when they could help serve meals to community members at the church dinner, set up for the ice cream social, and play music at West Fairlee Old Home Day. They benefited enormously from the support and self-esteem they gained from learning from our older residents and working beside their friends. They have taken this with them on their life journeys. As my son said “There cannot be a more welcoming crowd than a room full of older folks when performing on your squeaky fiddle when you’re young!”

— Jen Shatney, Newer West Fairlee Resident (about 16 years)

Our Goals: together we will create…

A thriving community center open to all.

An energy-efficient renovation with a commercial kitchen and community services.

An accessible space for connection through food and health, arts and cultural programming, and education and a more open understanding of each other.