COMING DOWN -- The bandstand at Hampton Beach, a landmark there for many years, is being torn down to make room for a new $200,000 beachside facility, that will include a new bandstand, public rest rooms, observation area and offices.
[Portsmouth Herald photo]

HAMPTON BEACH -- Hampton Beach's famed bandstand, erected near the turn of the century and serving as center of beach attractions for over 50 years, was the first structure to be demolished this week as workmen paved the way for the new $350,000 beach front facilities.

FAMED BEACH BANDSTAND is shown being demolished.

Volunteer chamber of commerce labor worked many hours starting last Friday to strip the wood from the bandstand and salvage thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment, wiring and boards. The remainder of the demolition job will be undertaken by the contractors this week.

Mr. Howard Thomas, clerk of the works from the New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways, told the UNION this week that plans remain essentially the same as originally worked out some time ago.

Included in the biggest recreational project in the seacoast area in many years will be a year round chamber of commerce, office of employment security, travel agency facilities, men's and women's rest rooms, a new pavilion, first aid room, seating for more than 1,000 persons, promenade, state office facilities, lifeguard quarters and lockers.

Center of the new facilities will be a huge shell type stage approximately 25 feet wide at the back point to 42 feet in width at the front. It will be 16 feet deep. With the stage will be modern dressing rooms on either side with complete amplifying and lighting facilities.

The easterly point of the facility will rest on round steel piling with a center of concrete. The piling will extend to points as far as 40 feet below the beach surface in some spots.

Architect for the project is W. Brooks Fleck with John H. Mennick serving as structural engineer. The mechanical engineer is the Fuller Engineering service. Contractor for the job is the Mishara Construction Co., Inc. of Natick, Mass.

During the past weekend, much volunteer labor has been at work, headed by Fred Gagne, chairman of the Hampton Beach Precinct Commissioners, and George Smith who loaned much of his marina equipment to assist in removal of seats. Lumber and other materials salvaged will be used to construct a temporary bandstand at a point approximately 150 feet north of the present chamber of commerce building. The present chamber office is expected to be moved to its new temporary location this week. The bandstand will be erected adjacent to the chamber office and will face towards the south. This will allow some vantage points of the stage from the Casino veranda and will assist police in keeping the majority of the crowds away from the main street area.