Madison Historical Society Planning Improvements, Looking For Community Support

The Madison Historical Society is in the process of assessing its collections, including its largest possession, the Allis-Bushnell House, which also serves as the historical society's home.

The board also is planning some improvements, including painting the Allis-Bushnell House, and they hope to get some support from the community when that project gets underway.

On Wednesday, Sue Frankenbach, chairperson of the Grants Committee, along with Jim Matteson, chairperson of the Properties Committee, was touring the Allis-Bushnell house with some consultants hired with the help of a grant that Frankenbach acquired. 

The consultants were, Alexandra Allardt, a Fine Arts Conservator of ArtCare Resources in Newport RI, along with Mohamad Farzan, an architect of NewPortArchitects, Newport, RI and Dorienne West Farzan, an architect and Historic Preservationist of NewPortArchitects, Newport, RI. 

The grant that will pay for their work is called the Conservation Assessment Program, funded by Heritage Preservation, which is part of The National Institute for Conservation.  "CAP provides a general conservation assessment of your museum's collection, environmental conditions, and site. Conservation priorities are identified by professionals who spend two days on-site and three days writing a report. The report can help your museum develop strategies for improved collections care and provide a tool for long-range planning and fundraising."