Press Release
Lowe's Contributes $1 Million to Help Preserve Landmarks in Six States
Lowe’s and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Fund Landmarks in Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania
Washington, D.C. (Feb. 9, 2007) – The home of one of America’s most important abolitionists; a building where thousands of immigrants waited for ferries to shuttle them to new lives; a century-old inner-city mansion built just for children; and an iconic New England lighthouse have all been awarded restoration grants from Lowe’s and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation is awarding the grants, which range from nearly $30,000 to $100,000, to 10 historic sites through a $1 million contribution to the National Trust. This is the second year that Lowe’s has supported the National Trust with a $1 million grant.
In New York, a $100,000 grant will fund mechanical upgrades at the Harriet Tubman Home, the Auburn residence where the famed abolitionist, Underground Railroad operator, Civil War spy, suffragette and humanitarian lived for the last years of her life. On Ellis Island in New Jersey, the architecturally significant Art Deco style Ferry Building will also receive a $100,000 grant for renovations to the Customs Room, which will soon open as an exhibit hall. Built in 1899 by a mother and father as a memorial to their son, Philadelphia’s Smith Playhouse will soon sport a badly needed new roof, thanks to a $100,000 grant. And the iconic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, which graces the Maine state quarter and has adorned the wave-swept coastline for nearly 175 years, will receive a $50,000 facelift.
"With the support and generosity of our vendors, Lowe’s is proud to support efforts aligned with our mission of improving the places where our customers, employees and families live, work and play," said Larry D. Stone, chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "Focusing on priority projects of the National Trust for Historic Preservation enables us to make dramatic and long-lasting improvements to these communities."
“All of the projects selected represent unique and irreplaceable parts of our American heritage, and thanks to the funding from Lowe’s, we’ll be able to help ensure their preservation for future generations,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Lowe’s obviously cares about preserving our nation’s history, and we’re delighted to partner with the company to fund such deserving projects.”
To select grant recipients, the National Trust’s Northeast Office held an open competition to identify important historic preservation projects in a 10-state region from Maine to Delaware. The Northeast Office received 171 applications for a total requested amount of $16 million in construction funds. To be eligible for grants, properties had to be at least 50 years old, open to the public and in need of assistance for bricks-and-mortar work. A selection committee composed of Lowe’s and National Trust representatives reviewed applicants’ proposals and made the final selections. The National Trust Northeast Office will work with each of the grant recipients to complete the projects over the next year.
The Lowe’s grant award recipients are:
Delaware Grants
The Iron Hill Museum, Newark, Del. – Constructed in 1923 as a segregated one-room African-American schoolhouse and now used as a museum to showcase Delaware’s mining, African-American and Native American history, the Iron Hill Museum will receive a $92,275 Lowe’s grant to install a new hot air furnace and oil tank, fire detection system and wood-shingle roof.
Maine Grants
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Bristol, Me. --For nearly 175 years, the white, granite lighthouse depicted on the Maine state quarter has acted as a beacon for sailors and a source of inspiration for artists. Due to considerable water intrusion, the lighthouse’s mortar has deteriorated, and the $50,000 Lowe’s grant will be used to fund the repair and restoration of the landmark structure’s exterior masonry.
Woodlawn Museum, Ellsworth, Me. – Built between 1824 and 1827, Woodlawn was the home of a prominent Maine lumber family for more than a century and has been open as a public museum for more than 75 years. The $29,870 Lowe’s grant will be used to preserve the museum’s windows, which have been compromised by flaking paint and loose glazing.
Massachusetts Grants
Tremont Estates Building, Boston, Mass. -- Constructed in 1865 as the home of the Smith Organ Company, the Tremont Estates Building was abandoned and unused for years until it was reclaimed as artist studio space. The $100,000 grant from Lowe’s will be used to restore 238 historic windows in the building, which is now part of the Boston Center for the Arts.
Crane Estate at Castle Hill, Ipswich, Mass. -- Perched high above a barrier beach overlooking the Atlantic, the Great House at Castle Hill was constructed in 1928 as the summer home of a Chicago plumbing magnate. Now open to the public, the estate is the beneficiary of a $52,800 Lowe’s grant that will be used to repair and restore Castle Hill’s concrete garden walls and entry stairs.
New Jersey Grants
Ellis Island Ferry Building, N.J. -- Built in the Art Deco style in 1934-35, Ellis Island’s architecturally significant Ferry Building, which was used as a lunch room for immigrants, a waiting room for the departure ferries and a U.S. Customs Office, has been vacant since 1954. The $100,000 Lowe’s grant will be used to restore the Customs Room, the final portion of unrestored interior space.
Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, N.J. -- Constructed in 1926 and known for its magnificent sunburst dome and ceiling of 1,000 multi-colored lights, the theater named for Red Bank native Count Basie will use its $100,000 Lowe’s grant to defray the cost of installing a new roof.
New York Grants
Harriet Tubman Home, Auburn, N.Y. -- The New York home of the famed abolitionist, Underground Railroad operator, Civil War spy and nurse, suffragist, and humanitarian will benefit from a $100,000 Lowe’s grant to fund mechanical upgrades.
Pennsylvania Grants
Smith Memorial Playhouse, Philadelphia, Pa. -- A treasured landmark since it opened in 1899, the 24,000-square-foot Beaux Arts building designed exclusively to give inner-city children a safe and fun place to play, will receive a $100,000 Lowe’s grant to repair its severely deteriorated slate roof.
The Bryn Mawr Theater, Pa. -- Built in 1926 as a grand movie palace, Bryn Mawr’s historic theater long ago covered its spectacular sky-lit atrium with tar paper and ceiling tiles. Now, thanks to a $100,000 grant from Lowe’s, the glorious skylight will shine once more.