Renovation Progress!
The pace of the CHS renovation / expansion project reflects the activity being undertaken:

In October 2006 the Town of Cornwall received a Small Town Economic Advancement Program grant of $250,000 from the State of Connecticut to be passed to the Cornwall Historical Society for renovation and expansion of the CHS building.

In July 2007 the Society launched a capital campaign with an ice cream social to raise funds to complete the planned design and cover ongoing maintenance.

The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Society’s project.

By January 2008, the architectural plans were well developed, and the paperwork necessary to be filed with the town and state were in process.

At the end of February, the collections of the Society had been packed up safely, listed carefully, and moved to storage for the project period.

An off-site office is equipped with phone and files so that some inventory work can continue and research questions can be searched.

The early period of attaining permits, funding, and bids seemed slow because it had to do mostly with paper.

In August 2008 the project became visible with the demolition of the chimney and the removal of the dilapidated rear of the building. The arrival of cement trucks and the pouring of new footings and flooring gave firm evidence of progress.

October shows the fastest change with framing -- and in just a few weeks the expansion took shape, with a web of 2x4s and thick beams culminating in a peak above the new exhibit space.

The building will be closed in and dry for interior work during the cold wet season.