Dear friends,
Thank you for your continued support of the St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture, including the Silas Wright House and Museum in Canton, New York. As a non-profit organization that receives limited funding from state and local governments and outside agencies, we greatly depend on your kindness and generosity to sustain our facilities and provide innovative programming to the residents of St. Lawrence County and beyond.
To that end, the board of directors of SLCCHC has been carefully monitoring a couple of serious issues with the condition of our buildings. It has been determined that action must be taken, and taken as quickly as possible.
The first concern is the siding on the Red Barn, which has been deteriorating for some time. We have completed temporary, short-term repairs, but the siding needs to be replaced entirely. To do this project, we are budgeting the cost to be about $175,000, based on estimates we have obtained. We would be using a high-quality, state-of-the-art composite material that will look just like the current material, but will far outlast the existing siding. We would also be installing new soffits of the same material and a new gutter system.
The second area of continued concern is the condition of the cedar shake roof on the Silas Wright House. Water has been seeping inside during thaws in winter and rainstorms in spring, summer, and fall, a problem that has worsened over time. Recently, during strong wind events, we have found shingles scattered from the roof onto the lawns. We are currently exploring options for replacing the roof on the house. This project won’t be inexpensive to complete either. Ah, the joys of maintaining real estate!
The third area of improvement for the property is the ongoing historic garden project, the fruits of which you have already begun to enjoy in the front yard of the Silas Wright House. Along with a new brick walkway, the beginnings of historically researched flower and herb beds, and the engraved brick option for members—each of which has been highlighted in past mailings and in the Wright House Newsletter—this project has added considerable beauty to the front lawn, and people are really beginning to notice us in a whole new way! There are further plans to enhance and complete the garden project. All it takes is some additional gifts to make it happen.
Now, you likely understand what I will ask next. I am requesting your help through a donation today to support three crucial projects at the museum. While we will add some grant funding, we must also raise substantial amounts from our members, individuals, and businesses across the county and beyond. There are no grants available that could fully cover the expensive new siding and roof. Grants of a quarter million dollars are not something we can ever hope to be awarded, and if roof estimates reach even $100,000, the total cost for both projects could be around $275,000. Thus, it’s our responsibility to gather funds for these essential jobs that cannot be delayed. We have a huge hill to climb to get these jobs done. Will you please join us on the climb?
Previous donations, supplemented with grant funding, have enabled us to make progress on numerous essential projects at the Silas Wright House and Museum. Over the last year, we have successfully completed necessary mold remediation in the basement, purchased industrial dehumidifiers, created a new pollinator garden, completely renovated the museum gift shop and bathrooms, restored existing historic windows and repainted sashes in the Silas Wright House, improved the lighting in the galleries, and acquired hundreds of plants for the historic garden.
Maintaining and improving our facilities and grounds has allowed us to increase our capacity for visitation and programming. As a non-profit dedicated to building community in St. Lawrence County, these upgrades are essential for delivering the highest quality services to those who visit us or seek our help with research, whether nearby or distant.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture.
Sincerely,
William H. Flynn
President, Board of Directors
St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture
Ways to Donate to the 2025 Summer Appeal Campaign:
1. Mail a check to:
SLCCHC
P.O. Box 8
3 E. Main St.
Canton, NY 13617
NOTE: Address check to SLCHA. Please also put in the notes “2025 Summer Appeal” and where you would like your donation allocated.
2. Stop by the Museum Gift Shop in person
3. Donate online through Square or PayPal
NOTE: If using PayPal, please include a note stating “2025 Summer Appeal” and where you would like your donation allocated.