St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture Awarded a Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of NYS
This grant will fund the completion of a Limited Condition Assessment for the Silas Wright House.
Contact:
Carlene Bermann, Executive Director, St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture
carlene@slcha.org
Katy Peace, Director of Communications, Preservation League of NYS
kpeace@preservenys.org
CANTON, NY, 08/28/25 — The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture is one of this year’s Technical Assistance grantees. Their grant of $7,500 will fund a Limited Condition Assessment for the Silas Wright House. The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to help fund this important work. At its 2025 meeting, an independent panel selected 31 applicants in 20 counties to receive support totaling $347,500. Grants represent both of the League’s signature NYSCA regrants – Preserve New York (PNY) and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG).
“We are so grateful to the New York State Council on the Arts and to the Preservation League of NYS for this unique opportunity to lay the groundwork as we plan to tackle some deferred maintenance and much-needed updates on our historic property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Carlene Bermann, SLCCHC Executive Director.
The TAG grant will be used as support for costs associated with the completion of a Limited Condition Building Assessment for the Silas Wright House. The work will be completed by Crawford & Stearns, who will serve as the consultant to the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture (SLCCHC). The assessment will determine the necessary building components that are most in need of repair. It will also provide the documentation necessary for the SLCCHC to prioritize and budget for future capital improvements. The TAG grant will help the SLCCHC maintain the architectural integrity of one of the most significant historic structures in St. Lawrence County, benefiting the organization as well as visitors and residents of this underrepresented community.
“This year, the League has brought our two longstanding NYSCA partnership grants together into one cycle, allowing us to see a clear picture of the remarkable preservation work getting started across the state,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The targeted studies funded by TAG and the expansive reports made possible by PNY will lay the groundwork for many vital projects over the years to come.”
For details and photos of all the 2025 grantees, please visit our website: preservenys.org/blog/2025-regrants
“NYSCA is proud to support these diverse and essential projects that will allow organizations to plan for their future and safeguard New York’s rich cultural history for generations to come,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of NYSCA. “Congratulations to all of this year’s grantees and we look forward to the work you do across our state.”
The Technical Assistance Grant program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Additional funding for Technical Assistance Grants is provided by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for projects within the Hudson Valley Greenway.
The Technical Assistance Grant program supports arts centers, historic sites, music halls, theaters, and other arts and cultural nonprofit or municipal entities that steward historic buildings throughout New York State. With the announcement of the 2025 awards, support provided by TAG since its launch in 2012 totals $819,320. These grants have directly advanced the efforts of 242 preservation projects.
About The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture
The St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture is a cultural institution and historic house museum dedicated to community engagement and preserving and promoting the rich history of St. Lawrence County, NY. SLCCHC is home to both the Silas Wright House & Museum as well as the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. Silas Wright, Jr., an attorney, politician, and the 14th Governor of New York State, was the first resident of the historic house, along with his wife, Clarissa Moody Wright. Now open to visitors 5 days a week, the house features period rooms dating to the 1830s and 1840s. A large addition was added to the house in 2000 that features changing exhibits, programming space and a hands-on children’s play space. The museum Gift Shop features items from St. Lawrence County, including candles, town t-shirts, and books on local history. The public Research Room offers access to county archives, family files, specific death records, and more, providing a space for public research. Connect with us at slcha.org, facebook.com/stlawrencecchc, youtube.com/@stlawrencecountyhistorical897, and instagram.com/stlawrencecchc
About the Preservation League of New York State
Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League of NYS has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The League empowers all New Yorkers to use historic preservation to enrich their communities, protect their heritage, and build a sustainable future. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state. Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague, and instagram.com/preservenys
About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts awarded $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.
Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts, and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.