Apr 2, 2008
Weston Historical Society
Grant helps turn dream into reality
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by Kimberly Donnelly
News that the Weston Historical Society received a $250,000 grant from the state to help it build an archive facility on its property at the Coley Homestead was met with unequivocal delight last Friday.
“Oh, fantastic! This means we will really be able to do this this year!” said Nina Daniel, a member of the society.
“How wonderful!” said society treasurer Hal Shupack.
The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant will help turn the historical society’s dream into a reality, Mr. Shupack said.
“This is big news for the historical society. What we’re doing is really for the whole community,” Mr. Shupack said of the plans to construct a $1.2-million, 4,000-square-foot archive and exhibition hall. “When we first embarked on this, we involved the schools and others. This [grant] allows us to do even more. I am thrilled, and it will open up a lot of new opportunities. I’m just delighted.”
The news came just two days after the Weston Historical Society held its annual meeting, during which the featured speakers were the architects Bob Faesy and Tom Smith of Wilton. They unveiled detailed architectural plans for the proposed facility, which includes a fireproof and climate-controlled archival vault.
Plans are to construct the building next to and incorporate the existing Cider Barn on the grounds of the society’s headquarters, the Coley Homestead at 104 Weston Road.
While preserving the sense of a 19th-Century New England farm, the new building will have some modern features, such as a photovoltaic roof on the south side.
“Placement of a photovoltaic array is ideal on the property,” Mr. Shupack said. “It will generate about 10 kilowatts of electricity, enough to supply all the electricity in the [new] building, and probably the [existing] house as well.”
The building’s traditional-looking post-and-beam construction will conceal insulation and other modern design features to ensure “tight” construction energywise, Ms. Daniel said. She said she hopes the building itself — in addition to what is stored within it — will be of interest to members of the community.
But it will be the historical society’s ability to store and keep Weston’s historical artifacts in town that makes the project so valuable, Ms. Daniel said.
“The new facility will greatly expand the society’s ability to safeguard and share our common history as well as to educate our young in their heritage,” she said. “In fact, the Coley Homestead may well become Weston’s most visible public landmark, one that epitomizes our respect for the past and our best hopes for the future.”
At the annual meeting, Sharon Gilbert, archivist at the society, noted, “History only comes alive when it is shared with others.”
Ms. Gilbert quoted author Cokie Roberts, who stressed to historians, archivists and curators everywhere: “Please don’t see yourselves as keepers of the flame. Yes, it’s great, but we have to be able to see the flame; otherwise it will go out in a dark room with no air.”
Capital campaign
The Weston Historical Society launched its capital campaign three years ago to turn its vision of an archive into a reality.
One of the first to make a donation as a member of the Founders Circle was First Selectman Woody Bliss.
“Preserving our history matters for future generations. It’s an important part of our heritage,” Mr. Bliss said.
He congratulated the society for launching a successful campaign. He also praised Tom Landry, town administrator, for taking the lead in applying for the STEAP grant on the society’s behalf, and local legislators John Stripp, Judith Freedman and John McKinney for making sure the project garnered the attention of the governor.
Mr. Stripp said, “I want to thank Gov. Rell for her willingness to award state funds for the Weston Historical Society for this meaningful capital project. This will permit Weston to protect a very important part of Connecticut’s early history.”
In a press release, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said the latest round of STEAP grants will pay for 83 projects in 72 towns across Connecticut, totaling $19,714,058.
“The STEAP grants are a critical way of helping smaller towns grow, stay vital and maintain the charm that makes living in Connecticut so special,” Ms. Rell said. “The residents of our communities benefit in ways large and small from programs such as this, and I am very pleased to see these projects moving forward.”
Mr. Shupack said as of last week, the historical society had collected money and pledges totaling $714,000. That includes donations from other Founders Circle donors and Preservationist Circle donors, as well as donations from Paul Newman’s Newman’s Own Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of Weston, among others.
With the $250,000 STEAP grant money, Mr. Shupack said, the society is now close to the $1.2 million it needs. “It allows us to start construction and go out to public for the balance,” he said.
The targeted date for groundbreaking is sometime in June, Mr. Shupack said, adding that if all goes well, the facility should be completed within a year.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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