Winchester Historical Society Announces Goal Update on Grant

In our recent Black Horse Bulletin, Winchester Historical Society President Bob Colt reported on the progress of the grants for Sanborn House restoration. In 2010, the Massachusetts Historical Commission awarded a $45,000 matching grant. The goal of an additional $45,000 has been reached through personal contributions as well as generous donations from the En Ka Society and the Griffin Foundation. The restoration will include an entry walk and lighting, and a new mahogany and glass front entrance that will replicate the original double door of 1908. This work will make the building handicapped accessible and meet ADA standards.

Executive Director Rebekah Beaulieu is busy overseeing the work at the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center, which will take place this spring. She reports that, “The Center has a busy schedule for 2011. It is a venue for various types of events, from monthly programs on history and restoration, to private rentals for special celebrations and events. Though we will be hard at work on our restoration, we plan to keep the building open to the public as much as possible.”

Keep in mind that the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center is and will remain open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. If you have any questions, please contact Rebekah Beaulieu at (781) 721-0135.

Sanborn House to Welcome All

by Nancy Schrock

A top priority of the Historical Society is to make the Sanborn House Historical & Cultural Center accessible to everyone in our community. This presents a challenge since the building was constructed 100 years ago for a private family. Thanks to the Griffin Foundation, the Town of Winchester, and donations from our members, this is about to change.

Griffin Foundation Awards Grant
The Griffin Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Winchester Historical Society in December, to design a front entrance that respects the historical integrity of the National Register Building while meeting the requirements of the Americans for Disability Act (ADA). The Society hired Karle Packard of Red Hawk Studio to design an entrance and walkway with appropriate lighting and signage.

Working with David Stirling, head of the Building Committee, Karle has come up with an attractive and functional design. This design eliminates thresholds at the doorway, includes a new door that replicates the original double doors, and provides landscaping with symmetric walkways that will be wheelchair accessible without intrusive ramps and rails. Our next Black Horse Bulletin will feature drawings of the final plans, which will need to be reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Commonwealth’s Architectural Access Board. Construction will require additional funding from grants and private donations.

Plans for ADA Bathroom and Parking
With funds recommended by the Town’s Disability and Access Committee, the Town has hired Red Hawk Studio to prepare plans to make the first floor of the Sanborn House handicapped accessible. These include handicapped parking, a new ADA-compliant bathroom, and changes to the side entrance. The plans for the bathroom are ready for review by the Town and State as a variance will be needed to adapt the space available. All groups are working together to make this happen.

The combination of private and public funding, along with many hours of volunteer work, continues to move the Sanborn House forward. There are groups who have been unable to rent or visit because of the lack of handicapped access. The society expects to resolve this situation soon. (February 2010)

Winchester Historical Society Appoints Executive Director

Major Step in Transformation of Sanborn House into a Public Institution
The Winchester Historical Society has appointed Rebekah Beaulieu as its new Executive Director, effective immediately. Ms. Beaulieu will also manage the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center, located at 15 High Street in Winchester, which now is open to the public on a regular basis.

Bob Colt, President of the Winchester Historical Society said, “Rebekah was the unanimous choice from a very strong field of applicants and possesses the combination of an impressive academic background and some analogous fund-raising experience which make her a great fit for the Winchester community and the development of the Sanborn House as a true historical and cultural center. The future is bright with such a talented, energetic and dedicated individual working for the good of Winchester in developing this grand house.”

Ms. Beaulieu’s arrival marks a new period in the life of the Sanborn House. A stunning example of Beaux-Arts architecture, the Sanborn House was originally built in 1907 and since 2006 the Town of Winchester has given the stewardship to the Winchester Historical Society, an organization dedicated to sharing Winchester’s rich history with its community. The Society has worked tirelessly to restore the building to its original beauty, currently planning an extensive capital campaign and recently earning a permanent preservation restriction for the site at this past fall’s Town Meeting.

An academic as well as a professional, Ms. Beaulieu is a doctoral candidate in American and New England Studies at Boston University. She has significant experience in fund-raising for non-profit organizations, most notably the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago and the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago. Ms. Beaulieu received a graduate degree in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

The Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. To learn more about the Winchester Historical Society and the Sanborn House, please call 781-721-0135.