Representatives of a Canaan preservation group asked Jefferson County commissioners Oct. 2 for help to preserve the Kramer House, a building the presenters said is more than 100 years old and a local landmark.

A Canaan Restoration representative said a 2022 building inspection found the structure structurally sound but that subsequent deterioration has created immediate exterior repair needs including roof work, siding replacement and insulation. The group reported it has a $30,000 grant from a community foundation, has raised about $5,000 locally in recent weeks, and estimates the total cost to make the exterior structurally secure at roughly $110,000. The presenter asked the county for any available funding assistance and said the group is pursuing local landmark designation.

The commissioners said they would review county resources and consider whether any county historic-preservation or small-grant funds could be applied. No formal county commitment was made at the meeting.

The presenters noted the Kramer House has served generations as a store, restaurant and gathering place and that volunteers across the county have offered to help with repairs. The group requested county assistance to avoid losing the building to further decay.