York Town News
Old York receives $500,000 federal grant, named among best of its kind
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK VILLAGE - The Old York Historical Society has received a big boost in its efforts to preserve, protect and present the town's artifacts and stories of days gone by - to the tune of half a million dollars.Old York has been notified it is in elite company, not only being awarded a very prestigious and competitive grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities but also receiving special recognition as a "We the People" project.
Old York Executive Director Scott Stevens confirmed Monday afternoon that the challenge grant award notification had been received from the NEH.
The $500,000 grant, which Old York must match with other donations at a ratio of $3 for every $1 of grant funding, is a wonderful addition to the society's efforts to construct a new heritage education and exhibition center from an old barn as well as to endow its operations and develop new programs centered around the facility, Stevens said.
"It's a huge boost to our campaign," he said Monday. "It increases by about 30 percent what we've raised. Our goal is $2.8 million, and this becomes the lead gift that we've been looking for. The money itself is a big chunk of the campaign, and it will stimulate further giving. Every dollar given now helps get more."
The visitor's center project is part of Old York's $2.8 million capital fundraising effort, known as the Heritage Campaign.
"The program is one where the grants are literally challenges. They award you very significant amounts of money, but you have to meet them 3 to 1," Stevens said of the NEH award. "… Gifts from individuals, businesses and foundations will now help secure further dollars from NEH."
As NEH Chairman Bruce Cole wrote of the Challenge Grant program, "NEH supports projects that are rigorous, wide-ranging and substantial in their examination and illumination of the great events and great ideas of the past in our own nation and throughout the world."
The NEH receives thousands of applications annually for Challenge Grants, awarding only a small percentage of those who apply with major funding support on the order of what Old York has received.
"Simply getting the grant is a big endorsement of Old York," Stevens said.
The NEH itself has said as much.
"The humanities convey important stories of our world, and today's NEH grant recipients are deeply engaged in advancing those stories through new scholarly research, new educational resources, increased efforts to preserve our cultural heritage and new public programs that engage our minds and broaden our understanding of human history," Cole wrote of the grant-winning projects.
As wonderful as the news is about the funding, Stevens said the staff and volunteers at Old York are equally elated to have received the "We the People" project designation. He explained that this is a special recognition by the NEH for model projects that advance the study, teaching and understanding of American history and culture.
"Designation as a We the People project is deeply gratifying. It acknowledges the significance of Old York's historic buildings, artifacts and archives not just to our community, but also to our nation," Stevens said. "I am proud that education programs planned and presented by my colleagues would be held up as models by the NEH. … It's just so gratifying that a national panel recognizes the significance to the country of our collections and our programs."
As the fundraising campaign moves forward, Stevens said work is also continuing on the plans for the center itself, which will be constructed from an antique Eliot barn that was donated to Old York to be saved from destruction when the land on which it stood was sold to make way for a subdivision.
The 19th-century barn, which was carefully dismantled with each timber labeled for rebuilding in the future, remains in storage at this time and the planning process will move forward once funding is secure, Stevens said.
"We're really gearing up now that we have this," he said, explaining the project will be reviewed through the required town planning process with multiple opportunities for public input.
The Old York Historical Society will celebrate the NEH grant and the opening of its museums for the summer season with special activities for the community and visitors alike on Saturday, June 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information about the Museums of Old York, the society's educational programs or Old York's Heritage Campaign, call 363-4974 or visit www.oldyork.org.
Associate Editor Jennifer L. Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@yorkindependent.net.
