Sheffield — Housatonic Heritage granted Dewey Memorial Hall $15,000 in a Heritage Partnership grant toward a $35,000 matching grant for feasibility and planning from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities fund. According to Dewey Hall President Beth Carlson, “This $15,000 gets us much closer toward raising the match for the MCCF grant. The total cost of the project is unknown, but it is likely to exceed $70,000. This is vital foundational work necessary for the stable future of Dewey Hall.”
While working to secure the full match, the hall will contract with an architectural firm for a Historic Structures Report (HSR), including a conditions assessment, and Master Plan.
A request for proposals has been sent out this month to qualified preservation architects, with a deadline of January 31 for proposals. A site visit for interested architectural firms is scheduled for January 5. Any firms interested in applying should contact deweymemorialhall@gmail.com. The organization plans to use this foundational work as a stepping stone for long term strategic planning and future capital grants.
In recent years, the organization responsible for the stewardship of Dewey Memorial Hall has revived the hall with community programming and events, geared toward celebration of the community through a variety of arts. The hall’s current Reaching for the Stars annual appeal seeks to raise $40,000 toward the ongoing operation and preservation of the hall as a community resource. The appeal will culminate in a Celestial Ball on February 10, a new event for the organization. The annual appeal campaign funds will not be applied toward the Historic Structures Report and Master Plan. As Carlson stated, “We have to raise funds for this project over and above our annual campaign donations. I am confident we will reach both goals. This is a first important step in a long term plan that will create a more secure future for the Hall.”
For more information on Dewey Memorial Hall visit its website, @therealdewey1887 on Instagram, and Dewey Hall on Facebook.
