Clearing out the Marion Town House basement has left town officials with the task of sorting through more than 100 years of town records.

Currently, the building’s basement is being cleared out in preparation to fix a water infiltration problem.

Before the project can move forward, Town Administrator Paul Dawson has requested that the department heads organize the many archived records that are currently being kept in the basement.

“What remains is for them to itemize them and pack them up,” Dawson said. “We need to determine which records can be destroyed and which to find suitable storage for.”

Although the town was incorporated in 1852, officials have yet to find records that date back any earlier than the 1900s.

According to Selectman Jody Dickerson, there was a fire in the former Town House building in the late 1800s.

“Many of the records were destroyed at that time,” Dickerson said. “The following year Elizabeth Taber gave the town $9,000 to build a new Town House.”

Built in 1877, the Town House was once owned by Tabor Academy and was later sold to the town.

In November, Special Town Meeting approved $26,500 to be taken from the town’s Free Cash fund for mold remediation services in the building’s basement.

Despite the water infiltration problem in the basement, Dawson said the records were in good condition.

As for the mold remediation, Dawson said he is reviewing bids from five contractors to complete the repairs and renovations.

Dawson added that he is planning to have a recommendation to present to the Selectmen at the next meeting on February 19. Once a contractor is approved, the project can continue.