Nonprofit raises $50K for new roof, beams
ARTHURDALE —
Thanks to a matching grant, much needed repair work is taking place at Arthurdale Heritage Inc.
Darlene Bolyard, director of AHI, said the nonprofit had to come up with $50,000 in advance to qualify for the grant.
“We were three years coming up with $50,000,” she said. “You have to prove you have the money to do the repair before you can get the matching grant.”
According to the AHI website, the matching federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and administered by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, made this preservation possible.
Bolyard said once the repair work is complete, AHI will receive a $25,000 refund. She said the repairs are being done to the left wing of the main building.
“We’re putting in new support beams, porch poles and a new roof with cedar shake shingles,” Bolyard said
AHI is a registered historical building. Because of this, any work done on the building has to be historically accurate and with the same material as the original.
“We had to find highly skilled workmen who knew how to install cedar shake shingles,” she said.
Bolyard said she is happy the work is being done because couples often choose to have their weddings in the Center Hall.
“It’s a beautiful place to have a wedding,” she said. “Once these repairs are completed more people will be attracted to come here for their weddings.
“I’m very grateful to all of the people who helped us raise the funds to do this repair.”
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