Inside the Concert Hall in Natick, Mass. (Josh Gordon)

Dear Preservation 911,

If you have driven through downtown Natick, Mass., you have probably noticed the landmark building at the corner of Routes 27 and 135 filling up a block of Main Street with ornate store fronts and tall arched windows above. The capstone reads, "Clark's Block, 1875."

What you may not know is that when Nathaniel Clark built this block he included concert hall in the center of the top floor. It was used for concerts, lectures, and town meetings, but gradually fell into disuse. It is now in a state of ruin; the balcony and stage have been demolished, and an enclosed corridor runs down the middle of it. I would bet that the acoustics in this place are amazing, as its design and vintage is not unlike the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, N.Y., (also an upstairs hall with a peaked roof).

Word on the street is that the building's owner intends to fill in the space with more offices, even adding another floor to it.

The old concert hall on top of Clark's Block is in imminent danger of disappearing forever. I'd love to see The Center For Arts in Natick (TCAN), the community, and the owner of Clark's Block figure out a way to save it and make it usable again. If done right this could be as beautiful, useful, and versatile a space for TCAN and Natick as Mechanics Hall (www.mechanicshall.org) is for Worcester.

Spread the word!

Sincerely,

Josh Gordon

E-mail the writer with advice, comments, or commiseration.

Got a 911 in your town? Send us an e-mail.

Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.

The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.