​Farmers have an old saying: “make hay while the sun shines.” At the League, with all of New York State to cover and many months of unpredictable weather, we like to do workshops while the sun shines!

June 28 - The Preservation League and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation presented two free workshops in Newburgh to help people take advantage of New York’s Historic Tax Credits. The workshops were held at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site and addressed the specific needs of homeowners and commercial property owners. During the workshop, staff from the State Historic Preservation Office reviewed the basic guidelines of the program and answered questions on the application process.

The workshop was presented by the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Additional support was provided by U. S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney; the City of Newburgh; RUPCO and the Newburgh Community Land Bank. 
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June 30 - Presented by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Long Island Historian Summit in Roslyn gave historians an opportunity to discuss the challenges, opportunities and experiences they face.

Speakers and moderators included New York State Historian Devin Lander, Assistant Commissioner for Archives and New York State Archivist Thomas J. Ruller, the Suffolk County Historian, and historians from the Town of North Hempstead, Village of Southampton, Town of Brookhaven and Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, President, Board of Trustees of Association of Suffolk County Historical Societies and Trustee of the Preservation League.

July 11 - Preservation of cultural resources is an ongoing challenge. The Preservation League was pleased to partner with the Greater Hudson Heritage Network and the Jay Heritage Center for a workshop to de-mystify the process of applying for historic preservation grants, and to inspire heritage sites to seek funding for prospective preservation projects.

The workshop focused on historic preservation grant funding opportunities, discussed the importance of sound project planning, and reviewed some successful preservation projects. The discussion included the Preservation League and the New York State Council on the Arts’ partnership programs: Preserve New York and the Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program as well. Missed the workshop? Stay tuned – a webinar will be offered in November and feature a brief overview of funding sources and a case study. For more information visit http://www.greaterhudson.org .

July 14 – The League helped Southern Tier homeowners, commercial property owners, realtors, contractors, and community leaders learn how preservation can play a key role in economic development, community revitalization and smart, sustainable growth. The free workshop was held at the Tioga County Historical Society in Owego and was co-sponsored by Preserve Owego, the Village of Owego, Preservation Association of the Southern Tier, and the Owego Historic Property Owners Association with refreshments provided by Carol's Coffee and Art Bar.
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The workshop discussed the benefits of historic preservation with a focus on community revitalization through use of historic preservation incentives. The Preservation League provided information on using Historic Tax Credits to make repairs to properties, with a special focus on repairing, restoring and preserving original windows in historic buildings. Alphonse Pieper, former executive director of Historic Ithaca and owner of Building Preservation Works LLC of Homer, NY conducted a walking tour of the Owego Central Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

July 12 -14 – League staff joined a panel discussion titled “Preservation for Whom” at the Legacy City Preservation Conference in Buffalo. Moderated by Rahwa Ghirmatzion, Executive Director of PUSH, the panel discussed the role of marginalized communities in neighborhood revitalization, and how rebuilding efforts need to strive to be inclusive and non-displacing, using Buffalo and Upstate New York as case studies.

We’ve got more workshops coming up – including 8/9 in Dutchess County and 8/14 in Schoharie County – focused on applying for Technical Assistance Grants, a signature grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League. We’ll hope to see you as we travel across New York State – so our past has a future!

In 2017, Preserve New York grants supported grassroots preservation efforts in (L-R) Amsterdam, Schoharie County, Syracuse, Albany and Elmira - plus 25 more. See the full list on our website.

Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to compete for Preserve New York grants. Preserve New York is a signature grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Preservation League of New York State with additional support from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

The Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) programs have a total of $306,678 available in 2018. This includes $256,678 in funding from NYSCA for Preserve New York and TAG, $40,000 from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for Preserve New York projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and $10,000 for the TAG program from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area/Hudson River Valley Greenway for projects in the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. This amount will be disbursed over two grant rounds, Preserve New York in the spring and TAG in the fall.

Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and units of local government are eligible to apply. Arts and cultural organizations are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants cannot apply to Preserve New York and the New York State Council on the Arts for the same project.

Launched in 1993, Preserve New York makes grants for historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. Since 2017, The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has provided generous additional support for projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Through its grant programs, the League has strategically invested in the rehabilitation of historic places, leveraged significant additional cash and in-kind resources, and protected properties at the local, state and national level through landmark designations. These grants help the League’s growing constituency conserve, protect and use their cultural resources, and are an important catalyst in realizing community preservation goals.

Guidelines and a list of frequently asked questions are available on the League’s website at www.preservenys.org/preserve-new-york. Applications are not available online. Prospective applicants must discuss their proposed project with Frances Gubler, Manager of Technical & Grant Programs at the League by calling (518) 462-5658 x 10 or by email at fgubler@preservenys.org . The 2018 Preserve New York application deadline is March 26.

The Preserve New York Grant Program is made possible through funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and additional support from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
 
FAST  FACT: With the announcement of the 2017 awards, support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 totals more than $2.4 million to 376 projects statewide.
 

Not-for-profit groups and municipalities are invited to attend a free information session on Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG), the signature grant programs of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League.

The League is working with municipalities and not-for-profits across the state to host free workshops to discuss these grants, their requirements, the process of applying and some successful previous applicants.

A workshop has already been held in Watertown, and additional workshops are slated for: 

• Kingston 1/26
• Rochester 1/29
• Jamestown 1/29
• Binghamton 1/30
• New York 2/5
• Suffolk County 2/7
• Yates County 2/9
• Rockville Centre 2/15

Preserve New York and the TAG program have a total of $306,678 available in 2018. This includes $256,678 in funding from NYSCA for Preserve New York and TAG, $40,000 from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for Preserve New York projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and $10,000 for the TAG program from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area/Hudson River Valley Greenway for projects in the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. This amount will be disbursed over two grant rounds, Preserve New York in the spring and TAG in the fall.

Not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and units of local government are eligible to apply. Arts and cultural organizations are particularly encouraged to apply or support applications. Applicants cannot apply to Preserve New York and the New York State Council on the Arts for the same project.

Launched in 1993, Preserve New York makes grants for historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. Since 2017, The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has provided generous additional support for projects on Long Island.

Through its grant programs, the League has strategically invested in the rehabilitation of historic places, leveraged significant additional cash and in-kind resources, and protected properties at the local, state and national level through landmark designations. These grants help the League's growing constituency conserve, protect and use their cultural resources, and are an important catalyst in realizing community preservation goals.

Guidelines and a list of frequently asked questions are available on the League's website at www.preservenys.org/preserve-new-york. Applications are not available online. Prospective applicants must discuss their proposed project with Frances Gubler at the League by calling (518) 462-5658 x 10 or by email at fgubler@preservenys.org . The Preserve New York application deadline is March 26, 2018.

The Preservation League 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. It leads advocacy, economic development and education programs across New York State.

The Preserve New York Grant Program is made possible through funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and additional support from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

On July 13, the League traveled to the City of Amsterdam to present a grant that could breathe new life into the Mohasco Power House, also known as the McCleary, Wallin and Crouse Power House. Built in 1903, it is one of the few buildings to survive from the city’s once-flourishing carpet manufacturing industry.
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Since 1836 when William K. Greene opened his first Amsterdam carpet mill, names like Stephen Sanford and Sons, McCleary Wallin & Crouse, and the Shuttleworth Brothers Company were synonymous with high-quality woven carpets. These mills used the North Chuctanunda Creek to power their machinery.

In 1920, a merger led to the creation of Mohawk Carpet Mills, and three decades later, Mohasco Industries was formed. By the late 1960s, however, the company had moved to Georgia, and the power house sat vacant for many decades. The good news - it’s now owned by the City of Amsterdam.

The City has already secured grant funding to establish a walking trail along the creek celebrating Amsterdam’s industrial history and natural beauty. A previous grant from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor produced wayside signage connecting the North Chuctanunda Creek Trail with the Mohawk Valley Pedestrian Bridge and Erie Canalway Trail.

The City contacted the League for help funding a conditions assessment and code analysis of the power house - to prioritize a list of repairs to the bridge and power house exterior, and to estimate construction costs. Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture and Preservation LLP of Albany will complete the analysis, and the City of Amsterdam will provide a $500 retainer for the firm.

Municipalities across the state reach out to the Preservation League because we are New York’s only statewide organization providing comprehensive – and predominantly pro-bono – services to New Yorkers seeking to identify, preserve, protect, reuse, and promote historic resources as community assets.
 
We were pleased to present an $8,900 grant from the League’s Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund. This is the sixth grant from this fund, which was established in 2010.

The goal of the City of Amsterdam – to merge the natural landscape with industrial heritage to leverage community revitalization – is a perfect match for this fund.
 
Plans for the Mohasco Power House also complement the work of the League’s Industrial Heritage Reuse Program, which in 2014 produced a feasibility study for the reuse of Amsterdam’s Clocktower Building.
 
For too long, structures like these have stood as symbols of decline of upstate industry. Efforts like the study we’re funding today can help return these buildings to productive use, provide models for other communities across the state, and encourage municipalities to embrace and promote their industrial heritage.

Media coverage included: 

• Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Albany Times Union
• WAMC Northeast Public Radio
• Amsterdam Recorder

Welcome to Friendship, NY, a little town on Interstate 86 in Allegany County, bursting with New York State history.
 
One of the first things I learned that’s unique to Friendship is that it is one of the only towns in New York State with two original firehouses on the same main street.The Wellman Firehall and the Corbin Hose Co. built in 1902, which is currently under review for a National Register of Historic Places nomination. The League came to town to visit with the local historians and some of the invested community members to explore the Corbin building and additional significant sites and structures that Friendship is home to. Turns out, the whole of Friendship is ripe for a survey and we’re so eager to help them in achieving not only a building listing but hopefully one for the entire district.
 
One thing that might draw you to Friendship is its name, but it hasn’t always had such a friendly reputation. Prior to its incorporation in 1815, Friendship was an area designated for… settling disputes.The inhabitants of the hills and the valleys were arrayed one against the other, and disputes frequently led to personal combat, leading to the land being called “Fighting Corners.” Local manufacturing didn’t help. The presence of 5 or more makers of whiskey did much to slow down the pace of development and progress.On any given day, hordes of men could be seen around the places where the liquor was sold, engaging in fights, wrestling or running horses.Years later as settlement increased, the differences and animosities between “the hill folk and the town folk” of the past were resolved and friendship prevailed; and in honor of this period of reconciliation, the name “Friendship” was given.
 
Friendship marked its Bicentennial in 2015 and celebrated appropriately with a grand parade down Main Street. The parade was the perfect debut for Miss Daisy, the pride and joy of Friendship. She’s the only functioning horse-drawn steam powered fire pumper in New York State (and the only Silsby east of the Mississippi). She was originally built in 1881 and painstakingly restored in 2015 in time for the Bicentennial reveal, drawn by horses and everything.
 
This town has been touched by just about every significant movement or period you can think of. Friendship played a strong role in Underground Railroad and Abolitionism. It was home to the notable Baxter University of Music until 1883. Friendship also had an early hand in women’s suffrage, and was called home by many influential women and entrepreneurs.
 
Next time you find yourself on a road trip on I-86, you might want to pop into this quaint, historic town. It'll be no surprise once you get there that Friendship is aptly named. 

The owners of historic buildings on Long Island have a new source of support thanks to a partnership between the Preservation League of New York State and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation based in Hampton Bays.
 
The foundation has made a grant of $50,000 to the Preservation League to provide technical guidance and grants to not-for-profit cultural institutions who own historic buildings in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. This new program is a special fund of the Preserve New York Program, a signature grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State, made possible with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
 
Representatives from historic sites, museums, cultural sites, and historical societies are being encouraged to attend a workshop on Tuesday, February 7 from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Educational & Cultural Center in Stony Brook, to learn more.
 
A recent study of Preserve New York found that between 2005-2012, $746,000 in grants leveraged $11.3 million in funding from other sources and added 12,600 historic properties to the National Register, making many of them eligible for rehabilitation tax credits. Preserve New York grants can be used for the creation of historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. These reports are often the first step in a larger preservation and fundraising campaign.
 
To learn more about Preserve New York and other grant opportunities from the League, visit http://www.preservenys.org/grants.html.

Since 1993, grassroots preservation projects across the Empire State have received funding from Preserve New York, a signature grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State.

Over 23 years, we have invested more than $2.2 million in 346 historic preservation projects in nearly every county in New York State.

Preserve New York grants provide early funding for the professional studies that guide preservation projects, like:

• a historic structure report for a building that has a failing roof or foundation;
• a historic landscape report to better understand a designed landscape in a park or cemetery; or
• a cultural resource survey of a historic neighborhood as the first step toward nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Additionally, after identifying unmet needs in the field, we expanded the eligible project types to support building condition reports in 2016.

Preserve New York grants have allowed many not-for-profit groups and municipalities to catalyze the restoration and protection of their historic properties by leveraging additional grants, fundraising, or by using New York State and/or Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

Funding decisions are made by a panel of qualified volunteers and informed by site visits from League staff. In July, 2016, the grant panel met and selected 26 grant recipients in 18 counties to receive support totaling $202,000. Program guidelines and more information are available here.

Recent Preserve New York grant recipients, pictured above, included:

• Sylvester Manor Educational Farm (Shelter Island) - A $10,000 Preserve New York grant in 2015 helped fund a historic structure report for the manor house that will guide future restoration efforts. The site’s significance includes its architectural value, African-American history, Native American history, landscape design, historic farming resources, archeological resources, and extensive collection of family artifacts.
• Town of Greece - A $9,800 Preserve New York grant in 2015 helped fund a cultural resource survey of the KodaVista neighborhood. KodaVista was developed in the 1920s as a residential area for Eastman Kodak employees as part of the Kodak Employee Realty Corporation. The community is in a NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit-eligible census tract and could become the only National Register Historic District in the town of Greece. 

We’re grateful to the New York State Council on the Arts for their continued support of this program!

Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to compete for Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG), the signature grant programs of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

A total of $153,603 is available in 2015. The League will disburse this amount over two grant rounds, Preserve New York and TAG in the spring, and an additional TAG funding round in the fall.

“Through its grant programs, the League has strategically invested in the rehabilitation of historic places, leveraged significant additional cash and in-kind resources, and protected properties at the local, state and national level through landmark designations,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “These grants help the League's growing constituency conserve, protect and use their cultural resources, and are an important catalyst in realizing community preservation goals.”

The application deadline for Spring TAG and 2015 Preserve New York is Monday, April 13. Guidelines for grants are posted on the League’s website at www.preservenys.org. Prospective applicants must discuss proposed projects with Preservation League staff before receiving an application. Contact Erin Tobin, Director of Preservation, at 518-462-5658 x 12 for more information or to request an application. 

Read the full news release here.