Shoreham’s Newton Academy to Benefit from Grants and Auction

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Shoreham’s Newton Academy, one of the earliest remaining secondary school buildings in Vermont, will benefit from two recent grants from preservation organizations.  The Town of Shoreham was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation for repair of the roof on the historic building.  The Division awarded sixteen grants that totaled $201,000 from a pool of 55 applicants.

The Newton Academy Restoration Project has also received a grant from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the preparation by an architect of CAD drawings of plans and elevations and conceptual drawings showing restoration and renovations of the building.   The National Trust stated that the Shoreham project is one of only five projects that the Hart Family Fund was able to assist this year.  The purpose of the Fund is to assist small town preservation and revitalization initiatives around the country that will make an impact in their communities.

The Newton Academy Restoration Committee is planning a fundraising auction for Saturday, June 3.  It will be held at the Shoreham Elementary School at 1:00 p.m., with a preview and silent auction beginning a 10:30 a.m. The Committee is seeking donations of goods and services such as antiques and collectibles, small furniture and housewares., art or craft work, local food or garden products, gift certificates, tools, classes or instruction, yard and garden work, overnight stays at a cottage or inn, restaurant or home-delivered meals, and sports and recreation equipment.  Items must be in good condition.  Individuals and businesses that would like to donate to the auction should contact Susan Peden at 897-2001 by May 24.  The Committee is also selling Shoreham baseball caps with an embroidered apple tree to raise funds for the restoration project.

The Committee has facilitated structural analyses, preservation recommendations, and cost estimates.   A 2002 Historic Preservation grant enabled the stabilization and repair of the cupola, and donations, fundraising project revenue, town funds, and volunteer labor have been directed at deferred maintenance and other repairs.  Current fundraising efforts are centered on roof and structural repairs, which are projected to cost between between $80,000 and $116,000.