There could be a new life in store for an old gift bestowed on the public decades ago by one of Candia’s most well-known historical figures. Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley said it’s been many years since anyone has checked out a book from the old Smyth Library, a brick building off of High Street (Route 27). Although the nearly 80-year-old building is regarded as the first made specifically to function as the town’s public library, it has remained largely unused since the opening of the newer Smyth Public Library, about five years ago.

“Right now, it is pretty much only used to store the town’s voting booths,” Kelley said.

For many, the building is one of several symbols of the town’s heritage and it is also one of two gifts given to the town by the family of former state Gov. Frederick Smyth (1819-1899). Smyth also purchased and donated the town’s Civil War Monument, which was fully restored last year and still stands in its original place, across the street from the former library.

And like the statue, which was repaired last year, Kelley sees hope for a similar renovation for Smyth’s other architectural legacy. Although warrant articles to set aside restoration money for the building have been shot down by voters in past years, the building is now listed on state and national historical registers, and Kelley said a new committee will soon be taking a fresh look at what it would take to bring it up to modern standards.

Kelley said the building, if renovated, could alleviate the already crowded conditions in Town Hall by providing Town Clerk Christine Dupere with her own office. As it now stands, Kelley said, as much as $5,000 is spent every year on heating and maintaining the building even though it remains largely unused.

Kelley gave a rough estimate of $125,000 for the renovation job and said he’s eyeing a warrant article request for 2009.