Sites across Maine share $345K in historic preservation energy efficiency grants

A colonial three-story white clapboard building in autumn, with a tree showing bright foliage next to it

Photo / Maureen Milliken The Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden was one of 25 historic properties in the state to get a Belvedere Historic Foundation grant for energy efficiency projects.

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By Staff

Grants totaling $345,370 have been awarded to 25 organizations and businesses from Eastport to Kennebunk through the Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

The fund supports the preservation, restoration and retrofitting of historic buildings in Maine. An anonymous donor established the fund in 2007.

Grants range from $2,700 to $20,000, a sum awarded to seven of the grantees. The next application deadline for the annual round of funding is June 21.

Receiving grants are:

Biddeford Historical Society, to protect the meeting house by reglazing three windows and painting two exterior walls: $7,075;

Brick Store Museum, in Kennebunk, to add insulation to the attic and walls of the museum-owned, 19th-century Kimball House: $19,080;

Carver Memorial Library Association, in Searsport, to replace the heating system, insulate the attic, and convert downstairs lighting to LED to increase energy efficiency and comfort, as recommended by 2019 energy audit: $19,500;

Centre Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Bath, to restore and protect stained glass window 14 (the Getchell Window) in the southeast corner of the church (installed in 1899): $20,000;

Cherryfield Academy, in Cherryfield, to finish repairing, scraping, painting exterior trim, improving energy efficiency, and architectural planning of improvements to bell tower: $2,700;

City of Rockland, to install energy-efficient destratification fans above the gymnasium at Flanagan Community Center: $7,680;

Eastport Public Library Association, to repair and restore selected exterior masonry on Peavey Memorial Library, a 127-year-old Romanesque Revival building downtown, using historic preservation standards: $20,000;

Farmington Historical Society Inc., to improve the energy efficiency of the Octagon House so its local and architectural history will be preserved and on view throughout the year: $19,200;

Frances Perkins Center, in Damariscotta, to repair and reshingle the east and west roof slopes of the homestead barn to protect the integrity of the historic connected New England barn structure: $15,000;

Freedom Historical Society, to complete phase 3 including flooring construction, refinishing; garage wall construction and clapboard replacement, and painting: $16,796;

Friends of Isle au Haut Lighthouse, to repoint and restore the damaged granite base of the Isle au Haut Lighthouse tower: $20,000;

Friends of L.C.Bates Museum, in Fairfield, to begin the first-floor window restoration project by restoring the three most deteriorated windows and using the project as a model for continued window restoration: $10,000;

Friends of Liberty Hall, in Machiasport, to continue restoration of Liberty Hall and return it to its "original architectural splendor": $20,000;

Hampden Historical Society Inc., to add heat pumps to protect archival documents: $8,840;

Kezar Falls Circulating Library, in Kezar Falls, to restore the 11 windows of the 95-year-old Kezar Falls Library: $7,300;

Lincoln County Historical Association, for capital repairs of the 1839 carriage house at the Pownalborough Courthouse property in Dresden: $5,000;

Maine Charitable Mechanic Association Inc., in Portland, to advance recommendations of the 2017 historic structure report on Mechanics' Hall by retaining the authors to develop a roof master plan: $9,000;

Porter Memorial Library Association, in Porter, to pay for architectural drawings for an addition that will create library accessibility via an elevator, and to conduct an energy audit: $6,500;

Quoddy TIdes Foundation, in Eastport, to complete the critical next restoration step (threatened upper front masonry facade) to save and reuse the historic 1887 Masonic Building in downtown Eastport: $11,177;

Robbinston Historical Society, in Robbinston, to continue the preservation and maintenance projects for Grace Chapel: $20,000;

St. Anne Episcopal Church, in Calais, to replace fuel tanks and restore the wood and batten sidings of the church, stained glass windows, and the bell strike mechanism: $16,922;

Town of Cornish, to make Pike Hall safe and accessible for community use while maintaining the historic integrity of the building: $20,000;

Town of Danforth, to fund proposed energy-efficiency improvements to reduce operating costs and expand the use of Union Hall: $20,000;

Town of Fryeburg, to update and create a new library extension that will serve the community as an outdoor recreation library and meeting space: $10,000; and

Town of Swan's Island, to repair the foundations of two outbuildings, the Bell House and the Oil House of the Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station: $13,600.