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Otis Historical Commission aims to finish East Otis schoolhouse roof by June 30 to unlock grant funds
Summary
At its June 3 meeting the Otis Historical Commission heard that contractor LaRochelle is awaiting delivery of a metal roof for the East Otis schoolhouse and that Paul Holtz will release grant funds if the roof is completed by June 30; the commission also reviewed trust finances, grant rules and upcoming community events.
The Otis Historical Commission on June 3 heard that contractor LaRochelle is awaiting delivery of a metal roof for the East Otis schoolhouse and plans to repaint the building its original white color. Commission members were told that completing the roof by June 30 is a condition for release of grant funds.
Paul Holtz informed the commission that "if we finished the roof by June 30, he will release the grant funds," making the deadline a key funding trigger for the restoration work. Members discussed sequencing and next steps to meet that date.
Commission member Gail Gelburd reviewed requirements for a MASS Development grant under consideration, saying the program requires projects to be "shovel ready" and that a building must be owned or leased by an organization to qualify; she also noted that the town requires a form be filed when applying for grants. The commission discussed whether the Otis Preservation Trust might lease a building to meet eligibility.
A report from the Otis Preservation Trust showed $12,000 in the group's Wells Fargo account, a figure members noted in the context of planning and fundraising for preservation projects.
The commission flagged a separate preservation need at the Otis Cultural Center at Historic St. Paul’s: members said a trench is needed behind the building to prevent flooding. Hal Krobrin reported the chandelier originally associated with the cultural center remains in Boston, and that Steve is assisting with recovering the chattels that belonged to the site.
Under community activities, Celeste Watman said she is researching digitizing the museum collection. The commission also discussed Molly Brown letters in the collection; once located, members said they will move the letters to the Otis town vault for safekeeping.
Notice Otis will present the Knox Trail video at the Monterey Library on Aug. 14 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a lecture from video creators Jessica and Josh and local historian Tom Ragusa, the commission recorded.
The commission scheduled a tag sale for July 5 at the Otis Ridge parking lot and noted that Peter Cameron wrote an Otis Observer article about a Native American dugout canoe found at Mud Pond. The commission set its next meeting for Aug. 5 at 4:30 p.m. and adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
