$10K state preservation grant funds historic library’s new roof

$10K state preservation grant funds historic library’s new roof

The historic Hughes Memorial Library will soon be getting a new roof thanks to a $10,000 matching grant received by the West Cornwall Library Association from Preservation Connecticut in partnership with The 1777 Foundation.

Debra A. Aleksinas

CORNWALL — The aging roof at the historic Hughes Memorial Library in West Cornwall, which evolved from a one-room schoolhouse built in 1845, will soon be replaced thanks to a $10,000 historic matching grant from Preservation Connecticut in partnership with The 1772 Foundation.

The West Cornwall Library Association was one of 17 nonprofit organizations statewide to receive grants totaling $136,818.

Awards ranged from $1,213 to $10,000 for eligible projects, such as roof replacement, chimney repairs, security and fire safety, window restoration and masonry repointing.

“The board of directors of the Hughes Memorial Union were thrilled to receive the matching grant from The 1772 Foundation,” said Program Director Libby Mitchell.

“The funds will be used to replace the roof of the Hughes Memorial Library and will be matched by board member Pamela Hughes in honor of her grandfather, Frederick Hughes, who donated the building to the organization in 1941.”

The Hughes Memorial Union is a community hub that promotes learning, work, wellness and the local economy. It encompasses not only The Hughes Memorial Library, which serves as an art exhibit and event space, but also The Local, a market for farmers and artisans and The Union, a venue for collaborating.

According to the Town of Cornwall website, the Hughes Memorial Library is descended from the Social Library Society in the Town of Cornwall, established Nov. 5, 1806. Originally it was located in homes, the chapel in West Cornwall and then the West Cornwall Fire House. In 1940 the library moved to the West Cornwall School on Lower River Road, which had closed with the opening of the Consolidated School.

Additional Litchfield County grant recipients include the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum in Washington, Connecticut, which received a $5,220 matching grant for upgrades at The Gunn Memorial Museum. Also, the Merwinsville Hotel Restoration Inc. in the Gaylordsville section of New Milford received a $10,000 grant for exterior painting at the historic hotel.

Preservation Connecticut is the statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization, established in 1975 by a Special Act of the Connecticut General Assembly as the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. Its mission is to preserve, protect and promote the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut’s communities.

The 1772 Foundation was named in honor of its first restoration project, Liberty Hall in Union, New Jersey, which was built in 1772 and is the ancestral home of the Livingston and Kean families.

The foundation works to ensure the safe passage of historic buildings and farmland to future generations.

Latest News

Blues and bloodlines: The Devon Allman Project at Infinity Hall Norfolk

Devon Allman

Venla Shalin

On Friday, Aug. 15, The Devon Allman Project will play Infinity Hall in Norfolk. As the son of the legendary musician Gregg Allman, Devon carries on the family tradition while stepping out on his own.

“We’re honored to keep the tradition alive,” said Allman. “But I don’t play my records and try to compare them to records from 50 years ago. I try to write songs that mean something to me, and hopefully they’ll resonate with other people.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Peggy Ann McEnroe

AMENIA — Peggy Ann McEnroe, 60, a lifelong area resident, passed away surrounded by her family on Aug. 4, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York.Peggy Ann was the owner and operator of Peggy’s Sweet & Savory café in Amenia, New York (formerly known as Back in the Kitchen).

Peggy had a passion for food and travel and her creativity and generosity knew no bounds. Born on Dec. 10, 1964, in Sharon, Connecticut, she was the daughter of the late William Thomas McEnroe and Caroline Ann McEnroe.She was a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Purchase.

Keep ReadingShow less
Evelyn Ann Moody Lamberti

WASSAIC — Evelyn Ann Moody Lamberti, 87, passed away July 13, 2025, in Barre, Vermont.

Born on Dec. 13, 1937, in Hartford, Connecticut to Hazen and Helen Moody, she spent her early years in Wassaic, New York and graduated from the first graduating class of Webutuck Central High School in 1955. She attended New Paltz College and then worked for the Dutchess County Supervisors Office in Poughkeepsie, New York.She married David Lamberti on Oct. 10, 1959, in Wassaic and moved to Vermont.

Keep ReadingShow less
Caroline (Lynn) P. Chase

SOUTHFIELD, Mass — Lynn Chase of Southfield, Massachusetts, passed away on July 30, 2025, at Berkshire Medical Center after a courageous seven-month battle with an aggressive cancer. Despite the challenges, Lynn continued to inspire those around her with her strength and determination.

How do you begin to talk about the extraordinary life of Lynn Chase?

Keep ReadingShow less