WISCASSET — The Maine Art Gallery has completed an exterior restoration project, made possible by two grants awarded to match town funding in order to make necessary repairs to aging woodwork and shutters and completely repaint all exterior surfaces.
Maine Historic Preservation/1772 Foundation’s award totaled $10,000; the Belvedere Historic Preservation Program’s award totaled $9,200. The funds aided in the ongoing restoration of the historic 1807 “Old Academy Building” at 15 Warren St. in Wiscasset, which houses the non-profit, town-owned gallery.
These grants were just two of several grants for which the gallery has applied in order to address the ongoing restoration needs of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A previous grant from the 1772 Foundation and Maine Historic Preservation supported the development of an historic condition assessment to prioritize restoration projects. A grant in 2021 from the Davis Foundation addressed water remediation issues, providing for the installation of a perimeter drain around the building.
This project was the first in a series of projects for which the town has authorized matching funds. These include the preservation and protection of the Old Academy’s windows and the repair, weatherproofing, and restoration of the cupola, both of which will aid in preserving the structure and enable the Maine Art Gallery to continue to provide a beautiful and healthy space for the community.
Board members David Pope and Jimena Guzman conducted MAG oversight. Maine restoration specialist Les Fossel provided consultation services, including completion of an Historic Condition Assessment on the building which identified priority issues to address. Additional assistance was provided by the Public Works Department and the town.
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