WILTON — Work on updating the exterior of the future Western Maine Play Museum is underway in downtown Wilton.

The museum, which does not yet have an opening date, is being brought to life in a 100-year-old building on Main Street.

The construction of a brick courtyard is nearing completion in front of the building. A crew from the Maine School of Masonry is donating their labor to construct the courtyard. When the courtyard is completed, it will feature wrought ironwork gates and fencing atop the brick with lights on each pillar.

The courtyard will also feature bricks engraved with the names of people who donated to the museum. The donor bricks have been made, but will not be placed in the courtyard until the construction is completed.

Crews from Upright Frameworks in Farmington are working on siding the exterior of the building and installing new windows. Like the Maine School of Masonry, Upright Framework workers are donating their labor and doing the renovations at cost.

In an interview with the Morning Sentinel in April, museum organizers said that the structure of the building is in great shape, but that nearly everything else needs to go. The interior of the building has been completely stripped down to its studs, and as the museum receives donations, its interior will be worked on.

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“WMPM is grateful to the many community workers, volunteers and donors who have continued to support this project so generously with their time, money, skill and energy,” said Western Maine Play Museum board member Lori Lewis in a press release last week.

The move to establish the Western Maine Play Museum began in the fall of 2013, when a board of community members was established to develop the idea and designs for the museum. The work began in 2014 to raise $750,000 to bring the museum to life.

With a recent donation of $25,000 from a local family, the project is now $70,000 away from its construction goal of $500,000.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate

 


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