HARPSWELL — Merriconeag Grange #425 in Harpswell received a $10,415 grant through the Belvedere Fund of the Maine Community Foundation for structural repairs. 

The grant will be used to re-coat the roof, repair damaged interior flooring and sills, fix the balustrades and trim, and repair sections of siding on the building located on Harpswell Neck Road. 

Sam “Chuck” Alexander, master of the grange, said that work on the roof will begin later this month. 

“We are tickled by the Belvedere Fund’s grant, and we hope that other community members will also contribute to complete the needed repairs to keep this grange structurally sound and inviting for the next generation,” said Alexander. 

The Belvedere Fund cited the importance of the Merriconeag Grange #425 as a community gathering place and noted its acceptance earlier this year on the National Register of Historic Places as factors in its decision. 

Of the 588 granges in Maine, Harpswell is one of the few in continuous operation. For over 100 years the Merriconeag Grange #425 has supported agricultural education and hosted a variety of events including town elections, school graduations, social events, family reunions, receptions and community suppers. 

The privately funded Belvedere Historic Preservation program invests in the preservation, restoration, and retrofitting of historic buildings in Maine. Grants from this fund focus on capital investments in historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities. 

kobrien@timesrecord.com