It was a community effort to build the Machias Gymnasium and Auditorium. At first, the proposal was turned down at a town meeting. The news at the time was saved in an album by my mother:
The idea was first conceived in 1958 by James Rier at a meeting of the Machias Rotary Club. The Machias businessman, an active member of the club, had learned that some building material was available at a fraction of the original cost through a surplus sale of the United States Government. After months of meetings, discussions and just plain hard leg work, the committee arrived at an estimated cost of the proposed building.
Turned Down Plan
A town meeting in Machias, however, turned thumbs down on a proposal that the municipality would spend $25,00 of the building and be responsible for the remainder of the cost.
“Looking back now, I am rather glad that the first town meeting did turn us down, because it only made us more determined to have the building and to do the necessary work to make our goal possible,” Rier said. Members of the committee credit the late Clarence “Tommy” Thompson and Roy Gallager, as being the two spark plus among the group of eager volunteers who worked persistently on the project. The late Warren Hill, of Machias, was credited by Rier as being one of the most important mainstays of the association. “Without the help and advice of Warren Hill, we could never have completed the project,” Rier commented.
The gymnasium was built and became a part of Machias sports, music and the arts for hundreds of students at Rose M Gaffney School and Machias Memorial High School for decades. And, it stands today, serving the same purpose within the community. A proud accomplishment for the town of Machias, Maine.
“A concern for the youth of the area by a group of businessmen, plus a good deal of Downeast ingenuity, resulted in the building of a spacious gymnasium – auditorium. The building has the largest seating capacity east of Bangor.”
Voices of Ancestors 
I never had the opportunity of meeting my grandfather. I know the stories of him, through my mother, grandmother and my father. My brother Don, had more stories to share, than had my sister, Anne, but at 1,9,& 11, our cognitive memories were obviously challenged by age.
Warren Hill, as I know all the stories, was a man of social adventures, loved his daughters, his wife, and his home, Machias, and Washington County and all that resided within. Adventure, I inherited from him, through my mother, Virginia Hill and my father, ThorWill Brehmer, of Yonkers New York.
The memories of Machias, Washington County and all of Downeast Maine… have had there hooks in me, since I was born. My family connections with the Wyeth and Jamison families, and all the art of Maine… and then all the histories I still learn today, enrich my life, and connections are made daily. with more to come, …………… I hope
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