The 1772 Foundation has awarded 23 restoration grants to Connecticut organizations, totaling $202,426. For the ninth year, the Connecticut Trust is working with the Foundation to vet projects and manage the grants, a partnership that matches the Foundation’s funding resources with the Trust’s knowledge of the needs of Connecticut’s heritage organizations.

            Grants were provided for painting, surface restoration, fire/security systems, repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows, repairs to foundations and sills, and chimney and masonry repointing.

This year, applicants were asked to outline measures they are taking to address climate change and sea level rise. The 1772 Foundation and the Trust both encourage local groups to plan, mitigate, and adapt their historic sites to prevent the loss of important cultural and heritage assets. According to Mary Anthony, the foundation’s executive director, “Preservation work should be focused on the future.”

The pool of applicants this year included 37 museums and historical organizations in ­­32 communities, representing a total need of more than $436,672 in capital repair projects. The 23 grants awarded will leverage more than $405,000 in additional private funding and help ensure continued access to community-based heritage.”

The 2019 recipients are:

Ball & Socket Arts Foundation, Cheshire: $5,000 to restore the entrance bay of the Ball & Socket factory office building (c.1919; NR)

Adam Stanton House, Clinton: $7,500 for repairs to the porch and front door of the Stanton house (c.1791; NR)

Bill Memorial Library, Groton (1890, 1907; NR): $5,000 for roof repairs

Whitneyville Cultural Commons, Hamden: $14,726 for roof replacement to the former Whitneyville Congregational Church (1834; NR)

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford: $10,000 for porch repairs to the Katherine Seymour Day house (1884; NR)

Mark Twain House Museum, Hartford: $10,000 for roof repairs to the Twain house (1873; NHL)

Kent Land Trust: $10,000 for roof and gutter repairs to the former Girl Scout lodge (1901)

Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, Kent: $8,000 for exterior repairs and painting to the dairy barn (SR)

Joshua’s Tract Conservation and Historic Trust,  Mansfield: $10,000 for structural repairs for the Gurleyville grist mill (c.1750 and later; NR)

Art League of New Britain: $5,000 for interior storm windows at the Art League barn (c.1870; NR)

The Institute Library, New Haven (1878; NR): $10,000 for masonry repairs

New Haven Museum (1930; NR): $10,000 for Phase VI window repair and restoration

New Milford Historical Society: $5,000 for exterior repairs and repainting at the Knapp house (c.1770 and later; NR)

Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook: $5,000 for window repair and restoration at the center, the former Town Hall (1910; NR)

Preston Historical Society: $10,000 for structural repairs to the Long Society meeting house (1818; NR)

Keeler Tavern Museum, Ridgefield: $5,000 for window and door repairs and restoration to the Brick House visitor center (1937; NR)

Heritage Land Preservation Trust, Torrington: $6,500 for masonry repair, window installation, and other repairs to the gate house at the Coe Brass mill pond (1904; SR)

Strong Family Farm, Vernon: $9,000 for repairs and painting of the Yellow Barn (1917; SR)

Waterford Historical Society: $10,000 for roof replacement at the Jordan school house  (1758; NR)

Friends of Lachat Farm, Weston: $10,000 to replace the roof of the Lachat carriage barn  (1840s; SR)

Weston Historical Society: $10,000 for structural repairs to the Coley Farmhouse  (c.1841; SR)

Winchester Center Historical Association: $10,000 for foundation repair for the Chapel building (c.1815)

Ellsworth Memorial Association, Ellington: $10,000 for gutter and cornice repairs to the Oliver Ellsworth homestead, Windsor (1781; NHL)