Newbury – The city of Newbury is pleased to share that it received a scholarship of 20,000 US dollars from the State Department of Conservation and Recreation to replace the roof of the Newbury Historic Schoolhouse.
The school building with a room in Lower Green was built in 1877 to replace an older, smaller school building. In the next 33 years, the building was temporarily used to the students of the school students before it was implemented as equipment storage facility for the city's motorway department.
In 1974 the residents of Newbury gathered to preserve and restore the school building, and collected $ 19,000 between state and local authorities to update the building and at the same time attribute its original appearance.
Since 2012, the building has become a characteristic of the history of education in the city and has relied relics from old school days, which were donated by the city residents, and a small library of research materials related to the history of Newbury over more than 375 years. The building is currently accessible to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
With 20,000 US dollars from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the city can replace the roof of the building so that it can withstand the hard weather conditions.
The city has worked together the JJS Universal Construction Company in Dudley to update the 1,200 square meter roof with synthetic cedar-shake roofs that withstand strong wind speeds, fires and strict effects. The roof also consists of recycled materials and is fully sustainable, which means that the material is both environmentally friendly and durable.
The city has also put 14,000 US dollars aside from the financing of the American Rescue Act to repair the windows of the building.
“We are lucky enough to receive this financing in order to preserve this wonderful piece of history that serves as an educational resource for our city,” said Blais. “In the name of the entire Newbury community, we thank the Foreign Ministry for Nature Conservation and Recreation for this opportunity.”
