Dry Mills Schoolhouse Museum Committee
The Dry Mills Schoolhouse Museum Committee is appointed by the Gray Town Council and is dedicated to
rotecting and preserving the town’s one room schoolhouse as an educational tool for school children and as a local historical museum. It consists of seven members and two (currently vacant) alternate members. In 2009-2010 the committee’s goals were to:
1. Request that the town submit a grant application to obtain funding for needed schoolhouse repairs,
2. Secure volunteer labor through the Windham Correctional Center to complete the needed repairs,
3. Schedule an updated re-assessment of the schoolhouse’s condition by working with the town’s Building Administrator
The committee successfully accomplished these goals. An updated assessment was completed, and it was determined that there were three areas of concern including the floor needing stronger support posts, the attic needing better ventilation, and the roof possibly needing support to carry a heavy snow load (although it was later determined to not be as big a priority as originally thought due to the ample sunlight and steep slope of the roof). Additionally estimates were obtained for the needed repairs with a separation of labor and materials, as the committee was able to secure volunteer labor to do much of the work.
As of this report (July 2010) the museum has not been reopened, although there is the expectation to do so. Unfortunately, the committee recently received word that the grant funding request was denied as well as additional funding from the town’s budget. Therefore, the committee will soon be meeting to look at further options for getting the repairs completed and the town’s schoolhouse re-opened. The committee continues seeking new members and issues an appeal with those interested in historic preservation to apply to join this committee and to help protect the only museum which is owned by the town of Gray. Please see the town’s website (under committees) for further information.
The committee's goals for 2010-2011 are:
1. Complete needed repairs in order to re-open the one-room schoolhouse to the public.
2. Continue welcoming new committee members
3. Establish a procedure for managing donations to the schoolhouse museum.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jennifer Dupuis
Acting Chairperson
Dry Mills Schoolhouse Committee
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