Announcing the NHEP Grant Recipients
Efforts to revitalize four historic buildings in Oneida, Blue Mountain Lake, Whallonsburg, and Saranac Lake will get boosts thanks to grants awarded through our Northeast Heritage Economy Program.
NHEP funds are made possible thanks to an award to the Preservation League of New York State along with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Maine Preservation, and the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance from the Regional Forest Economy Partnership initiative of the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The four states have evenly split the award of $1 million. In total, fifteen projects have been funded by this innovative collaboration. The organizations looked for projects that strengthen the communities they serve as well as their economies in areas that are suffering from the decline of the forest products industry. These grants support workforce development, cultural centers, community-supported enterprise, and visitor destinations in historic locations including museums, theaters, a historic garage building, a barn and a utopian industrial community.
Studies show that historic preservation investment supports small business and good-paying labor jobs, improves property values, keeps money circulating in local economies, catalyzes additional investment, and increases community pride. The funds for this program, and all NBRC programs, are available thanks to the support of the Congressional Delegations of all four NBRC states: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.ach of our four grant recipients are located in rural counties and the funds will directly support development in those communities.
Essex County
Whallonsburg Grange Hall - $35,000
The Whallonsburg Grange Hall will receive $35,000 towards a project to renovate and repurpose the large, vacant building and riverfront greenspace across the road from the Whallonsburg Grange Hall, a performing arts and community center in Essex, NY. The new Whitcomb’s will house two small businesses, a pottery and ceramics studio, space for classes, a retail store and cafe. The project builds on the successful volunteer-led renovation and rebirth of the Grange and is a step forward in the economic revival of this rural hamlet.
Franklin County
Historic Saranac Lake - $75,000
Trudeau building
Project rendering
Historic Saranac Lake will receive $75,000 to rehabilitate the former Trudeau home and medical office at 118 Main Street in Saranac Lake. This project will lead to an expanded museum campus that will help drive heritage tourism in the North Country. The space will host exhibits, collections storage, a resource room, public space for arts and cultural events, and rented office space. The over 5,000 square foot building was built in 1894 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hamilton County
The Adirondack Experience (ADXX) - $68,000
The Adirondack Experience (ADKX) in Blue Mountain Lake will receive $68,000 to restore the Log Hotel, an 1876 structure, along with two adjoining cottages. The work will follow the recommendations of an architectural conservation assessment conducted by Crawford & Stearns (C&S), a firm of architects and preservation planners, to address building needs in order to prevent any further deterioration of the structures. Restoring the Log Hotel will ensure that it will continue to tell the story of Adirondack history for years to come.
Madison County
Oneida Community Mansion House - $52,000
The Oneida Community Mansion House in Oneida will receive $52,000 to repair and rehabilitate a roof, masonry facade and associated internal framework of this National Historic Landmark building. Upon completion this will pave the way for new industry installation, allowing wellness and food service businesses to expand, as well as allowing the Mansion House to host performances.