Four Upper Valley landmarks have been awarded state Historic Preservation Grants.
“We’re very excited about it,” said Michael Stoner, a member of the North Universalist Chapel on Church Street in Woodstock and co-manager of the restoration project. The $18,897 grant will go toward repairing the roof on an addition that houses offices and meeting rooms. It was built in 1885.
“It’s in pretty bad shape,” Stoner said. Water has started to leak into the building. “We’re concerned about damage because it’s really getting worse.”
The main part of the church, where the sanctuary is, was built in 1835.
“A lot of visitors photograph the church because it really is a classic New England farm church,” Stoner said. “It really is a hub for the Woodstock community in addition to being a space that people come and worship on Sundays.”
The $20,000 grant that the Strafford Town House received will go toward restoring the belfry, lantern and spire that top the building which was erected in 1799.
The top most portion of the Town House is “in need of serious repair,” said Rocky Fuller, chairman of the Town House Committee. “Some shingles are coming off.”
In order to repair it, the parts will be removed and “set up staging right in front of the town house,” Fuller said. “Then pick it up and put it back again.”
It’s going to cost about $100,000 for all the fixes, Fuller said. The committee has held concerts and fundraisers and sent out appeal letters to raise the money. The lowest donation they received was $25 and the hightest $20,000 — “and everything in between,” Fuller said.
The Handy Memorial in South Royalton will get a new base and internal support structure, among other restorations, with a $16,000 grant.
The arch-shaped memorial, located on the town green, honors Hannah Hunter Handy who rescued her son and eight other boys during the 1780 Royalton Raid. The Barnard General Store, run by the nonprofit Barnard Community Trust, received $6,150 to “support structural repairs, drainage work and moisture remediation in the store’s basement,” according to a news release from the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation.
Two Upper Valley barns are recipients of Barn Preservation Grants.
The Big Barn Farm in Chelsea received $15,000 toward the replacement of the barn’s metal roof, according to the news release. Woodstock’s Top Acres Farm received $14,865 to put toward the round barn’s roof.
“Vermont’s vibrant and rich history is directly linked to the vitality and success of our future,” Vermont Governor Phil Scott said in the news release. “By investing in our historic buildings, we are acknowledging they remain the cornerstones of our communities and culture. Just as importantly, we are putting people to work restoring our past and creating new opportunities for the next generation of Vermonters.”
Sixteen historic preservation grants and 17 barn preservation grants, totaling $461,899, were awarded.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.
