Donor-Funded Projects

Center Receives Three Grants to Organize and Preserve Historical Records

Posted March 2, 2020
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB), recently awarded three grants to the Peak House Heritage Center to provide leadership, advocacy, and guidance in identifying and preserving our collection of historical documents and photographs.

First, the PHHC received a grant to participate in the Roving Archivist Program in which Sarah-Jane Poindexter, the RA, came to Medfield to assess the Center’s needs for policies, procedures, and workflows. She will complete a report of recommendations and a list of customized resources.

Next, the Center was awarded a Regrant for which SCHRAB will fund up to $1,000 in cash with a 25% matching grant for volunteer hours. This money will be used to purchase a two-drawer fire-resistant filing cabinet to house documents and photographs.

Third, the Center received an Archival Field Fellowship grant which will fund a paid fellow trained in archival management to perform onsite processing and arrangement of the Center’s collection, amassed since 1924. Also this grant requires a 25% match in volunteer services and will fund up to $500 in archival supplies (hanging file folders, acid-free tab folders and bond paper, cotton gloves, plastic clips, photo sleeves).

The Peak House Heritage Center is especially pleased to receive this collective hand-on assistance from SHRAB to ultimately make our collections available in the Commonwealth Historical Collaborative.

Grant Received to Fund Interpretive Panels

Posted June 14, 2019
The Dedham Savings Community Foundation has awarded a grant to the Center for the design and fabrication of two interpretive panels for visitor education and appreciation. One panel will feature the Colonial Kitchen Gardens focusing on food, medicine, and household herbs. Another panel addresses the 1976 archaeological digs behind the Peak House while revealing what was uncovered.

The Center is especially grateful to the Foundation in helping us to deliver innovative experiences to our visitors. Check out the panels in late summer/early fall.

Grant Received to Fund Commemorative Plaque

Posted July 12, 2019
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse, NY is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history. To that end, the Peak House Heritage Center received a grant from them to have the Franklin Bronze Plaques of Pennsylvania fabricate a plaque to commemorate the placing of the Peak House on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. We express our gratitude to the Foundation for this commemoration.

South Roof of the Peak House Replaced by Mitchell Construction Group

Posted June 2, 2019
Over a two-day period from May 31 to June 1, the south roof of the Peak House Heritage Center was replaced by Mitchell Construction Group of Medfield.  Installed last in 1982, the white cedar siding shingles were removed, their life span being a surprise to everyone given their incorrect application.  This time, the group combined industry-standard protocols with state-of-the-art materials to provide a rustic and lasting presentation.  The effect we see now, with thick, hand-cut red cedar shakes from British Columbia, is more in keeping with the house’s primitive early appearance. 

The Peak House Heritage Center is especially pleased that Mitchell Construction Group stepped up to address what was a deteriorating roof with one which is protective as well as appealing to our visitors’ historic preservation tendencies.  Thank you very much for this timely solution.