It’s been nearly 2½ years since organizers of a capital campaign for the Western Maine Play Museum launched the effort with a lofty $750,000 fundraising goal to bring the museum and its exhibits to life.

Now the group is just shy of halfway to reaching that goal, with no opening date set for the museum in Wilton but with the reality of it edging ever closer.

While the museum’s volunteer board of directors didn’t anticipate it would take this long to raise money for the project, they haven’t lost hope and say they will keep chugging forward at whatever pace is necessary to get the children’s museum open for the community.

“We’re committed for the long haul, which means slow but steady progress,” said Angela McLeod, president of the museum board. “The thing that compels us to continue moving forward is the idea, the dream, of it’s open and that children and families can experience it.”

The plan for the building’s interior calls for dividing it into over 10 rooms, or exhibits, where children of varied ages can learn and play. Some of the draft exhibits include an interactive nature room, where children can learn identification of animal tracks and natural items; a building room, where kids can construct forts and block structures; a play village, featuring a miniature town to explore; and a dark room where children can learn about the concepts of light and its absence.

The museum is slowly taking shape at 561 Main St., with the $305,000 the group has raised so far going toward overhauling a 100-year-old building donated to the project.

This month the group received a $5,000 grant from Skowhegan Savings Bank, putting it only $45,000 away from reaching $350,000, at which point it will receive a $150,000 matching grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation.

Once organizers receive the $150,000, they will be able to complete the interior and exterior renovation of the building.

The push to establish the Western Maine Play Museum began in 2013, when a group of people began exploring the idea of creating a children’s museum in Maine’s western region. In 2014, the group launched the $750,000 capital campaign, and it settled on Wilton as the location for the museum. Ever since then, fundraising has been a slow and steady process.

FUNDRAISING CHALLENGES

When the campaign was launched, organizers thought fundraising for the project would take only a year, McLeod said.

“We knew that a lot of people really loved this idea and supported this idea,” McLeod said. “We thought in a year we’d have funding.”

Lori Lewis, a retired teacher and spokeswoman for the Western Maine Play Museum, said that there were many naysayers in the beginning who told organizers they weren’t going to be able to reach their goal. Despite the progress made – including a complete overhaul of the building’s exterior – Lewis said not many of those naysayers have come forward to make donations, even though it is clear the project will be completed – it’s just a matter of when.

“There were many people in the beginning that liked the idea but would not commit money,” Lewis said. “We’re not counting on receiving (those donations). We would rather have financial support from people who are excited about this project, even if they can’t donate a lot of money.”

McLeod is hopeful that the remaining $45,000 needed to receive the $150,000 grant will be raised by the end of the year. Fundraising efforts will continue through the fall, and Lewis said she intends to attend area crafts fairs, selling items and talking with people to promote the museum.

“This thing only happens one conversation at a time,” Lewis said.

Lauren Abbate can be contacted at 861-9252 or at:

labbate@centralmaine.com;

Twitter: Lauren_M_Abbate