The phoenix is a mythical bird that starts a new life after bursting into flames, rising to its former glory from its own ashes.
It is fitting, then, that a group of local businesses and residents who have their hearts set on helping with the rebuilding of the historic Charlton Tavern have chosen to call their movement Operation Phoenix. The tavern burned down in the early morning hours of Jan. 10, after serving the Town of Charlton for more than 220 years.
Their first major fundraiser will take place on Sunday, March 1, at the Clifton Park Elks Lodge, from noon to 8 p.m. There will be dinner and a host of bands performing at a cost of $30 per person. Tickets are available at Charlton General Store and Katie O’Byrnes in Schenectady. Proceeds will be turned over to Michael Maloney, who owns the tavern and is spearheading efforts to rebuild it.
We feel obligated to help them out, said Operation Phoenix committee member Michael Carr. `I met my wife there, my in-laws there There’s a lot of camaraderie and a lot of good folks who made connections there.`
Maloney said that work to rebuild the tavern has already made significant progress, and that every effort is going to be made to make the new building as authentic as possible.
`The town almost felt like it was theirs as well,` he said of the tavern. `We really need to re-create what was lost, and we’re going to use a combination of things. When we open the door and the people who have been coming here as long as they have come in, that’s going to be the big test right there.`
Michael McGuire, the owner of a nearby farm, has volunteered his barn to supply the new tavern with period oak and hickory, the area woods used to build the tavern. Two fireplaces will be rebuilt, one from stone recovered out of the cellar. Maloney plans to rebuild the tavern’s original porch before adding the windows, an addition made by his father. The columns supporting the porch’s overhang will be emphasized.
Mike Maloney inherited the tavern from his father, Bill Maloney, who died on Jan. 4. He had converted the building back into a tavern 40 years ago, and his son plans to set on this project with his father’s vision in mind.
`I know his mindset, and I’ve worked for him for a long, long time,` said Maloney of his father. `Being able to come back and do this, I know where he would be going with it.`
The Charlton Tavern has served many purposes in its long history. Built in 1787 as a tavern, and one of the hamlet’s first structures, it was converted into a grocery store, general store and western clothing outlet over the years.
January’s fire also destroyed the neighboring home of David and Lynda Green. Within days, the community had rallied to help the Greens by taking up collections.
With the community behind him and plans in hand, Maloney says he’s ready to put hammer to wood as soon as possible. The only obstacles to the project are now procedural in nature. Maloney must reacquire the tavern’s special use permit and also get an area variance from the town.
The Town Board of Charlton is already considering the project, and declared itself lead agency at a Monday, Feb. 23, meeting.
`We have to follow the procedures that are laid out in our zoning ordinance in order to allow them to rebuild,` said Charlton Supervisor Alan Grattidge. `I myself am looking forward to working with the Maloneys to get through this process.`
Several more meetings and a public hearing will be needed to clear the tavern for construction, said Grattidge, who said he would like to see the project move ahead `as soon as possible.`
Legal hurdles, financial worries and the logistics of construction aside, the hardest part of the rebuilding efforts might be extending appreciation to all those who reached out with time or money after the tragic fire.
`I’m afraid that at some point it’s going to be tough to say thank you to so many people,` said Maloney. `We appreciate what’s been going on.`
For more information on Sunday’s event and Operation Phoenix, visit www.charltontavern.com.“
