Community Preservation Coalition

Historic Preservation


	Needham Town Hall: Largest CPA Project Ever Tackles Complex Financing Issues on Path to Rehabilitation The largest appropriation of CPA funds for a single project was recently approved by residents of Needham. At Town Meeting in May, residents gave their stamp of approval to the Community Preservation Committee's (CPC) recommendation to restore Needham Town Hall, using $15 million in CPA funds
	Gillett Cigar Factory, Southwick With the help of CPA funds and a group of determined local preservationists, the town of Southwick succeeded in a race against the clock to save what is probably the last surviving cigar factory in the Connecticut River Valley.
	Declaration of Independence, Mendon The town of Mendon used CPA funds to restore their copy of the Declaration of Independence, dating back to the 17th century.
	Paul Revere Bell, Plymouth CPA funds allowed for the restoration of Plymouth’s historic town bell, first cast by Paul Revere in 1801 and recast in 1896. In exchange for its grant of funds to repair the bell, the town gained a perpetual access easement to the belltower of First Parish Church, the private church where the bell hangs.
	Historic Library Preservation, Lenox Using CPA funds, the town of Lenox was able to purchase the historic Lenox library from a private library association in financial trouble.
	Thacher Island Preservation Project, Rockport Thacher Island, with its twin 19th century granite lighthouses, is a National Historic Landmark – one of fewer than 2,400 in the nation. This CPA project involved rehabilitation of the Whistle House, also called the Fog Signal building, along with other structures on this historic island
	Sheep Hill Farm, Williamstown The town of Williamstown granted CPA funds for the restoration of Sheep Hill Farm’s dairy and horse barns dating to the 1810-1830 period, and the relocation of a historic barrel-stave silo from a neighboring property to replace an identical one that collapsed.
	Town Hall Rehabilitation, Ashland Many CPA communities have used CPA funds to rehabilitate spectacular historic Town Halls, such as Ashland.