HOULTON, Maine — The town is seeking grant funding to make cosmetic changes to one of its local historical buildings.
Nancy Ketch, economic and community development director for the town, said last week that the town is applying for a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to recreate the west chimney on the Southern Aroostook Historical and Art Museum to make it historically accurate and identical from the roof line up.
Often called the White Memorial Building, the facility at 109 Main Street also is home to the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was founded in 1934, after the 1903 Colonial Revival house was donated to the town by the White family.
Originally, town officials had proposed seeking an $8,700 grant, but councilors agreed to seek more money during their regular meeting on May 29.
The original figure was just an estimate, according to Town Manager William MacDonald.
The grant will require no matching funds and the town should hear by September if they receive it, according to Ketch.
The project then will be put out to bid.
The town also received a number of donations during the brief council meeting. The councilors accepted a $300 donation from the County Federal Credit Union that will benefit the Houlton Fire Department.
They also received a $625 grant for the Houlton Recreation Department from the 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go Program. Town officials said that the money would be used for equipment to encourage and improve active living.
