Once Lost To Arson, Norristown's Memorial Bandshell Is Being Rebuilt

NORRISTOWN, PA — Norristown is expected to award a bid to rebuild the century-old structure and community pillar that was destroyed by arson last year.

The matter is on the agenda for the upcoming monthly municipal council meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. The public is invited to attend the meeting and can also watch the meeting live via the Municipality of Norristown's Facebook page.

Documents say the council will accept the "lowest responsible dontractor" for the project. The full agenda is online here.

The bandshell, which had stood for more than a century in Elmwood Park, was burned down during a fire on Aug. 28, 2024.

After a lengthy investigation, authorities said that the fire was intentionally set at nearby porta-potties before hopping over to the roof of the bandshell. The fire grew to a two alarm blaze before it could be extinguished.

The structure was immediately condemned and has been fenced off ever since.

In the aftermath, officials said they received an upwelling of support from the community and from individuals eager to donate. They acknowledged that the bandshell would be rebuilt, but a timeline was unclear.

But now that fundraising has begun, residents are hopeful that the rebuild will be expedited.

"We were encouraged by messages of support from community members who wanted to donate to this cause, and we wanted to give them a direct link to help in the effort," Council President Thomas Lepera said in a statement last fall. "The Municipal Council and administration could not be more grateful for this level of community support."

The municipality will accept only cash or check donations. Cash can be paid in person at Municipal Hall, in the Finance Department on the second floor, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Checks should be made out to Norristown with "Bandshell Donation" written in the memo section.

Checks can either be dropped off or mailed to Norristown Municipal Hall, 235 E. Airy, St. Norristown, Pa. 19401 - ATTN: Finance Department.