Longtime supporter honored at Searles property
Jun. 30—WINDHAM — A tree grows in Windham, now planted in a place of honor at Searles School and Chapel to honor the life of a longtime supporter and volunteer.
Friends, family members, community members and Searles trustees gathered on June 18 at the historic school and chapel building to honor the life and memory of Fred Linnemann, a longtime Searles trustee and volunteer.
Linnemann died in October 2020.
"We wanted to honor him," said longtime Searles trustee and supporter Peter Griffin. He noted that having the building open to the public during the dedication was also an opportunity for people to come inside and see the interior while highlighting many years of restoration progress.
The history of Searles School and Chapel dates back to the building's construction between 1907 and 1909, and then donated to the town by philanthropist and Methuen native Edward Searles.
The building served as a schoolhouse until the early 1970s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Restoration projects have included woodwork and other amenities while preserving the unique historical characteristics of the building.
Griffin, who once attended the Searles school, pointed out some unique spots, like names and initials carved in the interior wood panels by students.
"We wanted to leave the historic elements of the school in place," Griffin said.
Betty Dunn, a Searles trustee, offered thoughts on Linnemann's service to Windham and to Searles during the outdoor dedication of the tree and garden.
She said the celebration was to honor Linnemann for all the time, work and passion he put into restoration efforts.
Dunn cited Linnemann's early work in the community helping to forge a new Windham historical group in the 1990s to help support the Searles work.
Anyone who sees the interior of Searles can see Linnemann's hand in many projects, she said.
In addition to speaking about Linnemann and his efforts to support his community and the Searles building, a slide show ran throughout the event to showcase images of work that's been done.
And, Dunn noted, Linnemann was most often the man behind the camera taking the photos.
Linnemann's daughter, Heather Hankus, said whenever her father had a passion to do something, it was done well.
"When he does something, he does it with heart," she said.
Hankus said having the garden and now the tree planted in memory of her father is a testament to not only the great loss for her family and the community, but also the joy that he is being remembered for.
"People he has known for 50 years came here," she said. "Honestly, it was a huge loss for family and community, but it's amazing how people loved him, and he loved them."
