Technical Assistance Grants - 2022 — Preservation League of NYS

Preservation efforts across 14 counties were selected to receive funding totaling over $68,000

ALBANY, NY — The Preservation League of New York State and our program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2022 Technical Assistance Grants. 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.

“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.”

SCROLL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S TAG RECIPIENTS, OR JUMP TO A SPECIFIC COUNTY:

Cayuga County

Seward House Museum, Roof Condition Assessment, $4,000

“We are thrilled to earn support from the Preservation League of NYS. Because of this grant, the Museum can begin the process of planning extensive repairs on its roof, thereby protecting the building and the collection,” said Mitch Maniccia, Seward House Facilities Manager. “Once again, the Museum is embarking on a transformative historic preservation project.”

The Seward House Museum will leverage League funding towards the completion of a treatment survey of its standing seam metal roof, which is exhibiting signs of distress. By partnering with consultants from Klepper Hahn & Hyatt, including a structural engineer and historic preservation architect, the Museum will produce a plan that will avert damage to the historic structure and identify the most appropriate approach for the roof’s long-term care.

The Seward House was built in 1816 on four acres on the outskirts of Auburn, NY as a ten-room townhouse for a wealthy Cayuga County Judge named Elijah Miller. William Henry Seward married Miller’s younger daughter Frances and moved into the house in October 1824. The elegant interior of the Seward House has been restored to its original beauty and features an unmatched collection of political and travel souvenirs, decorative arts, and photographs that spans William Seward’s nearly 40-year political career. The Preservation League has been proud to support the Seward House Museum’s ongoing stewardship of their historic property over the years, including prior Technical Assistance (2020) and Preserve New York grants (2003, 2015, 2017, 2019).

*c. 1915 colorized post card showing the Port Byron Ditch Aqueduct*

Canal Society of New York State, 1819 Erie Canal Aqueduct Engineering/Structural Analysis, $3,500

"One of the few survivors of the original Erie Canal, the 1819 Owasco Creek Aqueduct has special significance as we continue celebrating the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal through 2025," said Craig Williams, President of the Society's Board of Directors. “The Society is especially grateful to the Preservation League for its assistance in our effort to preserve this landmark.”

Recently acquired by the Canal Society, this remarkable cut-stone arch carried the Erie Canal over Owasco Creek. Finished in 1819, It was one of the first structures completed for the Erie Canal. New York State has marked the 200th Anniversary of the iconic Erie Canal during a “bicentennial period” from 2017-2025, representing its span of construction, from the groundbreaking in Rome in 1817 to the fabled “Wedding of the Waters” in New York Harbor in 1825. League funding will enable the Canal Society to work with consultant Dr. Francis E. Griggs, Jr. to conduct an engineering study, which will assess the stability of the extant stonework. This information will allow the Society to better plan for its preservation, interpretation, and accessibility.

Cayuga Museum of History and Art, Willard-Case Mansion Ornamental Fence Conditions Assessment, $3,440

“This grant will help the Museum understand the scope of repairs needed for this integral part of the historic property’s landscape design and stylistic aesthetic,” said Kirsten Gosch, Executive Director of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art. “The fence is literally the gateway to the property, and its rehabilitation is crucial to the overall preservation of the significant historic landscape.”

The National Register-listed Cayuga Museum of History and Art will engage Crawford and Stearns Preservation Architects to complete an Ornamental Fence Condition Assessment for the circa 1877 cast-iron fence along the property’s street side lawns. The fence features rich Eastlake-style detailing in precast sections set in limestone bases. A total of six stylized limestone piers punctuate the fence, and an exuberantly decorated swinging gate is located at the main sidewalk entry to the Museum. The Museum has owned and operated the property as an educational and cultural site for nearly 90 years. During that time, the iron fence has undergone substantial deterioration, including oxidation, shifting of the limestone bases, and vandalization.

Chenango County

Chenango County Historical Society, Silver Street Structure Building Condition Survey, $4,000

“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.

Essex County

Fort Ticonderoga Association, Inc., Lower Town Smith's Forge Condition Survey, $4,000

“The $4,000 grant funding will support a building condition survey for the remains of a c. 1761 Smith’s Forge used by soldiers at Ticonderoga” said Margaret Staudter, Fort Ticonderoga Director of Archaeology. “The standing masonry wall is one of the few unrestored and untouched 18th-century architectural features still standing on the site that has miraculously withstood the test of time, despite the winter freezing and thawing cycles and the encroachment of vegetation.”

Shortly after establishing Fort Carillon (later named Ticonderoga), the French Army began the construction of a series of ancillary structures, including the Smith’s Forge, to the south of the fort beginning in early 1756. This area, known as the lower town, or the French Village, housed a number of proto-industrial structures that supported the military activities of the armies who garrisoned Ticonderoga in the 18th century.

“Fort Ticonderoga is exceedingly grateful to the Preservation League for their support," said Beth L. Hill, Fort Ticonderoga president and CEO. "This grant will support the critical first step in the preservation and stabilization of the Smith’s Forge. The project will include a condition assessment of the wall as well as stabilization recommendations for their long-term preservation. Before the ruins can be safely stabilized, they must be carefully studied by professional preservation architects to analyze their current condition and environment, establish any needed mitigation measures, and create guidelines for stabilization. This grant project further advances our museum's vital work in areas of archaeology, preservation, and stabilization across this significant historic landscape.”

Greene County

*The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse seen at night, illuminated with holiday lights. Photo by Jonathan Simons*

Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, Electrical Analysis, $3840

“We are very grateful to the Preservation League for this grant which will help the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society restore and preserve our historic lighthouse for the next century,” said Kristin Gamble, President, Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society. “Aside from the beacon, the Preservation Society is solely responsible for maintaining the lighthouse and seeks additional support to preserve this iconic structure.”

The Lighthouse electrical system requires an inspection by a certified electrician to determine the presence of any safety issues that should be mitigated. Working with Quantum Engineering Co., P.C., HALPS will also use this analysis to inform a follow-up survey that will determine the feasibility of installing solar panels on the main roof. This preliminary analysis is the necessary first step to minimizing the Lighthouse’s carbon footprint. The end goal would be a solar panel installation that generates enough power for normal operations, plus that of an electric heating system.

Montgomery County

Glen Conservancy, Ltd., Engineering/Structural Analysis, $3,840

“We are extremely grateful for this award from the Preservation League,” said Ronald Burch, Conservancy President. “We are quite proud of our historic structure and its continuing contribution to the community and the region.”

This grant will fund an Engineering Structural Analysis for the Glen Conservancy Hall, a meeting house/church structure completed in 1831. The Conservancy will work with Ryan Biggs Clark Davis Engineering and Surveying, D.P.C. to complete the analysis.

New York County

Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Analysis, $3,680

“The Technical Assistance Grant award from the partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State will allow the Foundation to better serve our public,” said Mimi Gross, President of the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation. “Through the close examination of our current mechanical and electrical systems, we will be able to plan for the long-term care of the collections through adequate climate control. The art collection, sculpture studio, library, archive, and preserved living spaces will be better preserved, continuing to show visitors how artists lived in New York City in the 20th century. We appreciate and thank NYSCA and the League for their support.”

The Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation has been implementing the recommendations of a Building Condition Report conducted by Jan Hird Pokorny Associates in 2019. The Survey was funded through the League’s NYSCA partnership Preserve New York grant program in 2018. It included a report on the climate control system and recommended that it be replaced as it currently does not provide a stable environment for art collections. As a follow-up to the prior survey, the Foundation will work with Landmark Facilities Group, Inc. to complete an MEP analysis to investigate options for improving climate control in the studio and residence. The project will include document review and site inspections in order to provide engineering analysis and a report with findings and recommendations.

Orange County

Safe Harbors of the Hudson, Ritz Theater Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Analysis, $2,480

“Safe Harbors is thrilled to receive TAG funding for the ongoing preservation of its Ritz Theater, one of Newburgh’s greatest treasures! We are proud to partner with the Preservation League and the New York State Council on the Arts on this exciting project,” said Lisa Silverstone, Safe Harbors Executive Director.

TAG funding will allow Safe Harbors to engage Derive Engineers to complete an options analysis and identify appropriate mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection (MED/FP) for the ongoing redevelopment of the historic Ritz Theater stage house in downtown Newburgh, NY.

*An aerial view of the former church turned museum in the Village of Montgomery*

Village of Montgomery, Montgomery Village Museum Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Analysis, $3,360

“Our entire community has a strong connection to its history, which is reflected in our museum’s mission ‘to honor our past, celebrate the present, and embrace the future,’” said Brian Fitzpatrick, Village Historian. “We are incredibly grateful and sincerely appreciate being selected for this grant award.”

Mayor Steve Brescia added, “This funding will help support our continuing efforts to maintain, preserve, and enhance our village museum, which stands as a prominent cultural anchor in our historic village.”

The Village of Montgomery Museum building was constructed in 1828 as a Methodist Church. Acquired by the Village Government in 2008, the museum houses and preserves items, photos, and documents that exhibit past businesses, schools, and churches, historic maps, and other aspects of local history; the museum is designed to provide visitors the opportunity to learn more about the history of Montgomery. No revitalization projects have been carried out for the building since the roof underwent repairs in 2017, and the museum needs maintenance. The Village will work with Landmark Facilities Group, Inc. to complete an MEP Analysis focused on the electrical and fire suppression systems. The information gleaned from this report will help inform future work.

Oswego County

Cleveland Historical Society, St. James Church Building Condition Survey, $3,400

The grant will be used to support the completion of a Building Condition Survey, which will help inform restoration efforts for the Historic 1867 Saint James Church. The church is one of the oldest and most cherished buildings in the small village community.

The Cleveland Historical Society (CHS) acquired the former Saint James Church on December 30, 2003. The 1867 building is listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. CHS will be working with Crawford & Stearns / Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC to complete the survey.

Queens County

King Manor Association of Long Island, King Manor Building Condition Survey, $3,200

“A proper condition survey has never been done of this house,” said Michael Colon, Site Manager. “Understanding how this segment of the building was constructed will help us understand more about why the floor here is failing and how we can best preserve it so this interesting space can be interpreted and viewed by the public”

When it was purchased by Rufus King in 1805, the site now known as King Manor had the northeastern facing Half House along with a smaller, southwestern facing, two-story structure. These original houses were built, most likely using enslaved labor, for the Colong-Smith family during the late 1750s-1790s. After acquiring the property, King enlarged and attempted to regularize the structure into a central passage house, with the earlier hall and parlor structure forming an ell. Without a known architect or extant building plans, little is known about the methods used to connect the earlier structures to King’s addition. The museum’s only Historic Structures Report was conducted by students in the 1980s and was never completed, with the result that no formal analysis of the second level of the ell has ever been completed. Thanks to this TAG award, King Manor will hire noted preservation architecture firm CTA Architects to conduct a building conditions survey to collect, and properly document, information on this previously overlooked portion of the structure. Once the survey is completed, an onsite meeting with the Project Consultant, Overseers, and Board will evaluate the report's findings and begin preparation for next steps. King Manor hopes to explore the restoration of the room's floor in the upcoming year and launch an internal research project for the interpretation of this space to return it to its historic use as a servant’s bedroom. Interpreting this space would allow us to expand our narrative of the experience of immigrants and BIPOC working-class people in early rural 19th-century America.

Rensselaer County

Arts Center of the Capital Region, Building Condition Survey , $4,000

Led by architect Barbara Nelson, the Executive Director of the Troy Architectural Program (TAP), this project will focus on the vacant top two floors of each of the Arts Center’s five buildings, paying special attention to the increasingly dire condition of the buildings’ windows – some of which date to the 19th century. Future fundraising for the restoration and renovation of the structures depends on having a thorough understanding of current conditions with an emphasis on safety and historic preservation. This will provide a foundation for plans to arrest further deterioration as well as provide a roadmap for an eventual full restoration.

Part of a nationally registered historic district, these remarkable buildings represent an untapped resource with the potential to be converted into artist studios, classrooms, rental space, or to otherwise further the Arts Center’s mission to provide resources and support to the region’s creative community.

Suffolk County

Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, Benjamin Glover Barn Building Condition Survey, $1,600

“We’re so grateful for the Preservation League’s 2022 TAG Award, helping Sylvester Manor take another step forward in preserving and sharing this uniquely intact historic site,” said Stephen Searl, Executive Director of Sylvester Manor. “The Manor’s Glover Barn is an iconic building, designed and built by noted 19th-century carpenter Benjamin Glover of Sag Harbor; it is a contributing structure to the Sylvester Manor Historic District, listed as nationally significant on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. This Conditions Assessment will guide us in showcasing the Barn’s historic fabric and interventions over time, as we rehabilitate this building to support future programs and better serve the public.”

For the Building Condition Assessment, Consulting Engineer Drew Bennett, P.E., who has helped to rehabilitate numerous East End historic structures, will: perform an inspection of the building including site conditions, foundation, timber frame, siding & roofing, windows & doors, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems; prepare a condition assessment report summarizing observations and recommendations for repair and renovation; prepare a preliminary order of magnitude cost estimate for recommended repairs and alterations; and prepare sketch floor plans to scale.

Oysterponds Historical Society, Vail House Building Condition Survey, $4,000

"Thanks to the generosity of the Preservation League, Oysterponds Historical Society is one step closer to creating a safe and appropriate storage space for our irreplaceable collection,” said Alison Ventura, Executive Director of Oysterponds Historical Society. “We are beyond thrilled!"

For years, Oysterponds Historical Society has been keenly aware of the need for additional state-of-the-art archival storage for its 60,000+ item collection. Consultants have advised OHS that the most suitable solution would be the adaptive reuse of the existing Vail House. This would include the preservation and, where needed, restoration of the late-19th century building and the integration of a new, 2,400 square foot archive addition sympathetic to its historic character.

An essential element of the Vail House Archive and Restoration Project is a Building Condition Survey, a preliminary assessment of the existing conditions of the building. OHS will work with Jan Hird Pokorny Associates to review existing architectural features and levels of deterioration and to make recommendations for remedial action.

Ulster County

Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, Reher Bakery Mold, Asbestos & Lead Remediation Study, $4,000

“This project is a vital step for the Reher Center to preserve these powerful spaces that show the lifestyle of the immigrant Jewish Reher family, who lived above their bread bakery for nearly one hundred years,” said Sarah Litvin, Reher Center Executive Director. “Eventually, immersive exhibits in these spaces will elevate and amplify the many stories of immigrant families to our region, past and present.”

The third floor of 101 Broadway is currently not usable due to deterioration. Before any rehabilitation work can be undertaken, the building and roof must be tested for mold, lead, and asbestos, and a plan for remediation created. Hazardous materials testing is a critical first step towards returning the building to full service while maintaining a safe and healthy indoor environment for all visitors and occupants.

This grant will fund a site inspection by Adelaide Environmental Health to identify and sample all areas suspected of containing asbestos, PCB, and lead based paint that will be disturbed or potentially disturbed by the Reher Center’s upcoming construction project. The tester will also make observations for the presence of mold contamination and sample as needed to identify the presence of mold and develop a remediation assessment. Asbestos, mold and PCB samples will be sent to a laboratory for analysis and painted surfaces will be analyzed for lead using and XRF device. Upon completion of the inspection and once all sample results are received, Reher will receive a technical report of the findings and remediation procedures. This grant follows a 2021 Preserve New York grant from the League that funded a comprehensive Historic Structure Report.

Ulster County Historical Society, Bevier House Building Condition Survey, $3,790

“With this support from the Preservation League of NY State, the Board of Trustees of the Ulster County Historical Society will have the key tool it needs to plan for the continuing annual maintenance and capital improvements to the historic Bevier House,” said Pamela Herrick, Director of the Ulster County Historical Society. “We feel very fortunate to be working with Historic Preservation Consultant Matt Alexander, of Catskill, New York, whose client list includes many local historical museum properties.”

Alexander’s Building Conditions Assessment Report will document the existing conditions and fabric of the Bevier House, portions of which date from c. 1714, and will identify immediate and long-term maintenance needs as well as an annual maintenance schedule. This planning document will help the organization seek funds for maintenance needs as stewards of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bevier House includes exhibition galleries, program space and collections storage and work areas all housed within the stone structure.

Wayne County

Village of Clyde, Washington Square Park Bandstand Engineering/Structural Analysis, $4,000
“We are very excited to start the process of preserving the gazebo, which is a contributing structure in the Clyde Downtown Historic District,” said Mayor Gerald Fremouw.

The proposed study will recommend appropriate repair and/or reconstruction techniques that will preserve the historic characteristics of the structure and ensure that it can continue to function as the cultural hub of the Village of Clyde. The Village will work with LaBella Associates to complete the study.

Wyoming County

Silver Lake Institute, Hoag Memorial Art Gallery Building Condition Survey, $4,000

“Hoag Memorial Art Gallery is a one of three historical buildings we own,” said Chuck Dusel, Hoag Building Committee Chairperson. “We are eager to examine it in detail and determine our best approach to preserving this unique and historical resource.”

This grant will assist Silver Lake Institute in hiring local architectural firm, In Site Architecture, to conduct a building condition report that will guide the future care of Hoag Memorial Art Gallery.

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.

“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 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.

Technical Assistance Grants - 2022