Haverhill Credit Union ............................... Haverhill,Massachusetts

Originally built as a State Armory, the new headquarters for the credit union had served as a community recreation facility for the past twenty years. Sadly, the building had fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect after so many years of use. An initial walk-through of the space confirmed the neglect, but also allowed a glimpse of the restoration potential that lay beneath the dirt and grime, which overlay the many classic architectural details. In the spirit of community service, local firemen donated countless hours of personal time in an effort to keep costs down and bring an old jewel back to life.The new credit union also doubles as the new home to the fire department’s administrative offices. Renovation work centered on refurbishing the existing wood details and wainscoting found in abundance throughout. Demolition and reconstruction was kept to a minimum in order to keep the overall cost down. What was once an old meeting hall within the Armory became the new main lobby of the credit union, complete with antique fireplace. The Fire Chief’s new office was refurbished along with its own antique fireplace. The original stair was stripped of its old varnish and brought back to life as the main feature of the entrance lobby. Finally, a brass fire pole occupies the center of the lobby, standing as an exclamation point for the community effort that fostered its resurrection.