The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to announce that the Chenango County Historical Society & Museum has received a 2022 Technical Assistance Grant. This $4,000 grant will fund a Building Condition Assessment of the museum’s property at 77 Silver Street. During this grant cycle, 19 projects representing 14 counties across the state have been selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $68,130 was awarded.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Preservation League and its partnering organizations for this grant!” said Joe Fryc, Chenango County Historical Society operations manager. “The building condition assessment of 77 Silver Street is a project that has been on our radar for quite some time, and with these funds we can finally take the critical first step in giving the building the care and attention it deserves.”
The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) will be working with LaBella Associates to conduct a Building Condition Assessment of the circa 1875 residential structure. For the previous 15 years, the facility served as the location of a second-hand bookstore on the Museum’s campus. Since relocating this retail space to a more suitable facility earlier this year, CCHS has been using the building to store artifacts from the Museum’s public teaching collection. Depending on feasibility, it is the Museum’s intention to renovate and refurbish this building for use as exhibition space and permanent collections storage. The first step in accomplishing these goals is to learn more about the condition of the structure. Information shared following the Building Condition Assessment will include details regarding the building envelope, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and safety systems. This will allow CCHS to better understand the condition of 77 Silver Street for capital planning and asset management moving forward.
The 2022 TAG grantees are:
Cayuga County: Seward House Museum; Canal Society of New York State; Cayuga Museum of History and Art | Chenango County: Chenango County Historical Society | Essex County: Fort Ticonderoga Association, Inc. | Greene County: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society | Montgomery County: Glen Conservancy, Ltd. | New York County: Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation | Orange County: Safe Harbors of the Hudson; Village of Montgomery | Oswego County: Cleveland Historical Society | Queens County: King Manor Association of Long Island | Rensselaer County: Arts Center of the Capital Region | Suffolk County: Sylvester Manor Educational Farm; Oysterponds Historical Society | Ulster County: Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History; Ulster County Historical Society | Wayne County: Village of Clyde | Wyoming County: Silver Lake Institute
The Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program is a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State, made possible by NYSCA with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area has provided additional support for the projects within the National Heritage Area boundary. The TAG program supports arts centers, historic sites, music halls, theaters, libraries, and other cultural nonprofit or municipal entities that steward historic buildings throughout New York State.
With the announcement of the 2022 awards, support provided by TAG since its launch in 2012 totals $602,104. These grants have directly advanced the efforts of 191 preservation projects.
“Now in its tenth year, the Technical Assistance Grant program has become a foundational part of the League’s offerings,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “We have seen firsthand how these grants get preservation efforts off the ground, opening the door for bigger projects and further investment. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the New York State Council on the Arts, as well as the generous support of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.”
“NYSCA applauds the works of the Preservation League of New York State – whose stewardship of our arts centers and historical sites preserves our collective histories and cultural assets for New Yorkers and our visitors for decades to come,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts.
“NYSCA’s support for the Preservation League of NYS projects is an investment in the importance of our history and our understanding of New York’s heritage,” said Katherine Nicholls, Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts. “Our museums and historically significant structures are cultural anchors, connecting us to our past and contributing to the health and vitality of our communities. On behalf of NYSCA’s Council and staff we would like to congratulate all the Technical Assistance Grant recipients and thank them for their important work.”
“TAG provides an avenue for us of evaluating and funding different projects that are important to our partners. Congratulations to all the recipients!”, said Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Executive Director Scott Keller. “We are continually impressed with both the quantity and quality of the applications for this program.”
About the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS)
Established in 1939, CCHS is the primary organization dedicated to actively and comprehensively preserving the history of Chenango County. The area’s premier heritage center, admission to the museum is a free-will donation left up to each visitor’s discretion, with approximately 75 percent of public programming offered free of charge. CCHS programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Learn more at chenangohistorical.org
About the Preservation League of New York State
Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth, and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state.
Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, twitter.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague and instagram.com/preservenys.
About the New York State Council on the Arts
NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. The Council upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA is awarding record funding in Fiscal Year 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.
NYSCA further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.
Contacts:
Joe Fryc, Operations Manager, Chenango County Historical Society & Museum
info@ChenanogoHistorical.org | 607.334.9227 ext. 2
Katy Peace, Director of Communications, Preservation League of NYS
kpeace@preservenys.org
