FREEPORT — Freeport Community Services will start construction this afternoon on a major renovation of the historic Mallett House at 57 Depot St.

A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at 4 p.m., according to project representatives.

Built around 1890, the house will be connected to the existing community center, which includes a food pantry and a thrift shop. The project will add 3,500 square feet of meeting, office and storage space to the center.

The work is being done with more than $500,000 in grants and gifts. It will preserve and reuse many features of the now-dilapidated house and include major energy-saving features.

The project is expected to take seven months.