The Litchfield Historical Society is pleased to announce the award of an NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Planning Grant.  This grant will enable an architect, engineer, and conservator to visit the Historical Society’s four buildings and assess each structure

• Determine if the HVAC systems are working properly and at maximum efficiency
• Examine the envelope or exterior of each buildings for any damage
• Make suggestions on how the buildings can be made more energy efficient while respecting their historical integrity

The Historical Society has partnered with

• Faesy-Smith Architects of Wilton, CT
• Fuss & O’Neill, a full-service engineering consulting firm, in Manchester, CT
• Richard Kershner, Director of Preservation and Conservation at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT.

Joe Gunther, owner of Accutemp Heating and Cooling, is the Society’s HVAC maintenance specialist.  He will be working closely with each consultant to explain the HVAC systems in each building.

The grant is already off to a roaring start.  Bob Faesy and Rich Vaill of Faesy-Smith Architects visited the museums two weeks ago for their building inspection.  They are already familiar with the History Museum as they have been working with the Society for over a year to develop a plan to replace the roof on this structure.

This week a Joe Marcucio and Dave Jackson from Fuss & O’Neil arrived at the museum.  Joe has already spent one full day at the History Museum and plans to return this week to spend time at the Tapping Reeve House, Litchfield Law School and Copeland Curatorial Center.

Richard Kerschner is scheduled to visit in September.  He will work with the curators to determine the optimal environment for the artifacts and archives.  Kerschner has already made a name for himself in the field by advocating looser parameters for temperature and humidity control in museum buildings.

Each consultant will provide the staff with a report.  These reports will be integrated into one inclusive document that will guide the maintenance of the HVAC systems and buildings for the next ten years.  The staff will create an immediately priority list and long terms goals as part of this plan.

The Historical Society hopes to apply for an NEH implementation grant in November in order to begin working on some of the buildings most immediate needs.