Preston - The recent renovations to the Town Hall conference room likely will lead to a new home for the historic John D. Crocker painting that had for years hung precariously on the wall there, subject to accidental bumping, furniture scrapes or other mishaps.

The large painting, set in a wide, gold-colored wooden frame, depicts lush green trees, brush and grass, with water to the right and a huge oak tree dominating the left of the canvas. Look closer and you see a solitary hunter or fisherman walking along the snaking dirt path. His dog runs ahead of him, sniffing at the bushes.

"Forge Brook Pond - Poquetanuck," the small brass plaque attached to the frame reads. "By John D. Crocker in 1894. Given by his granddaughter Mira R. Gager."

The painting was discovered years ago in the town Public Works garage - an old potato farm in Preston Plains - and was hung in Town Hall for lack of a more suitable location. But with the renovations, town officials now realize they need a better spot for the painting to protect it for future generations to enjoy.

Vivian Zoe, director of the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, couldn't agree more. She has discussed her concerns about the painting over the past few years with town officials and has offered to take the painting, subject to approval by the town and the museum's collections committee, to add it to Slater's extensive collection of 45 Crocker paintings.

But right now the painting needs conservation work. The bottom right corner is damaged and the frame needs work. Zoe said the painting also hung in Town Hall for many years when smoking was still allowed inside public buildings.

Slater would not display the painting before it's repaired, Zoe said, and the museum would not use its funds to restore it if it's only transferred to the museum on loan.

First Selectman Robert Congdon outlined the options to the Board of Selectmen last week and proposed that the town pay to have the painting restored - which is expected to cost several thousand dollars and is subject to Board of Finance approval - and then offer the painting on longterm loan to Slater for maybe 15 to 20 years.

That would preserve the painting, put it on display for the public to enjoy and protect the town's future interests, Congdon said. Selectman Timothy Bowles said he liked the idea, speculating that the town might want to build a new town hall or create a museum at the Administration Building on the former Norwich Hospital property some years down the road.

"That's terrific," Zoe said Friday after learning of the selectmen's proposal. She already has spoken with an expert painting conservator, Joe Matteis of Clinton, about the Crocker painting. The two will examine it July 3 at Town Hall to assess its condition and come up with a restoration proposal.

Zoe has already discussed the possibility of receiving the painting for the museum with the collections committee. If it all works out, she said, she would like to have the museum host "a party for Preston" to unveil the restored painting, perhaps as part of an exhibit of Crocker works at the museum.

"I consider it a very important painting for the region," Zoe said, "and would love to see it hanging in Slater and fully conserved and in beautiful condition for everyone to enjoy."

c.bessette@theday.com