Vermont Historic Preservation Matching Grants
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2020 Application
Vermont Historic Preservation Matching Grants
The 1772 Foundation has announced that funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 will be made
available for the following historic preservation projects: exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration, fire
detection/ lightning protection/security systems, repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows, structural
foundation and sill repair/replacement, and chimney and masonry repointing.
To demonstrate the sustainability of historic sites, applicants will be required to submit a cyclical maintenance, condition
assessment, restoration, or stewardship plan that has been prepared or updated within the last five years. If an appropriate
plan does not exist, the Foundation will consider providing support for development of a plan on a case-by-case basis.
Funding will not be provided for schools or churches.
The 1772 Foundation invites your organization to submit a full application on or before March 6, 2020 for
consideration at its April board meeting. You will be notified no later than April 30, 2020 of the board's decision.
PLEASE USE THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AS THE DOCUMENT NAME.
Select the category which best fits your application:
☐ Exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration
☐ Fire detection, lightning protection and/or security system
☐ Roof and/or porch repair/restoration
☒ Window repair/restoration
☐ Foundation and/or sill repair/replacement
☐ Chimney and/or masonry repointing
☐ Cyclical maintenance, condition assessment, restoration, or stewardship plan
Organization Information
Full name of organization:
Root District Game Club, Inc
Mission:
Our mission is to provide educational, cultural, and community activities for the public in the historic Root District
Schoolhouse.
Amount of request: (Maximum of $10,000):
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$10,000
Contact person:
Mary Layton
Mailing address:
1463 Union Village Road, Norwich, Vermont, 05055
Website address:
Rootschoolhouse.org
Email address:
marydlayton@gmail.com
Phone number:
802-738-2033
Number of full-time staff: 0 Number of part-time staff: 0
Number of board members: 8 Number of volunteers (excluding 30
board members):
List your five top sources of organizational funding and the amount received in the last fiscal year.
Byrne Foundation ($40,000 matching grant)
Vermont Division for Historic Preservation ($9300)
Public Donations ($3138) from 30 community members
Please note that this accounting documents our struggle to raise funds to replace the foundation, while having lost the
ability to have the public use the building, which in turn affects our donor base. We will approach Mascoma Bank, the
Byrne Foundation, the Norwich Women’s Club, and other foundations to help match this grant if awarded, and to fund
other necessary renovations to make the Root Schoolhouse open to the public. Once it is open for public use we can
build our donor base and perhaps start an endowment. The operating budget will increase as we are able to open the
building to the public. We expect increased expense for insurance, electricity, portable toilets, and mailings.
List date received and amount of any prior funding received from The 1772 Foundation.
None
List the partners with which you work. Please note if they are government agencies, private foundations, etc.
! Jaci Allen, Organizational Consultant
! Cecily Anderson, ANAGRAM (graphic design)
! The Beaver Meadow Schoolhouse Association
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! Peter Brink: Norwich Historic Preservation Commission
! Dorothy and Jack Byrne Foundation
! CATV
! Country School Association of America
! Dan & Whits and the Norwich Inn
! DeWolfe Engineering Associates
! Rocky Fuller, Strafford Meetinghouse, for Clivus Multrum visit
! Rick Geddes, Building Movers, Bow, NH.
! Dan Grossman, Grossman and Ripp, PLLC
! David Taplin: Tree removal
! Here in Hanover
! Mascoma Savings Bank
! Mr B’s Concrete, Barre, VT
! Norwich Historical Society
! Norwich Lions Club
! Norwich Public Library: Roger Arnold and the staff
! Norwich Times: Jen MacMillen
! Norwich Women’s Club
! Lyssa Papazian, Historic Preservation Consultant
! Pathways Consulting, LLC: Jeff Goodrich
! Preservation Trust of Vermont: Ann Cousins, Lisa Ryan, and Paul Bruhn
! Heather Smith (web design)
! Kenny Smith: Driveway entrance
! Blake Spencer Associates: Blake Spencer and Sean Dalton
! Ken Turino: Historic New England
! Town of Norwich, Vermont
! John Vansant: Smith & Vansant Architects, PC
! Valley News
! Vermont Community Foundation
! Vermont Division for Historic Preservation: Caitlin Corkins and Laura Trieschmann
! Vermont PBS
! Webster and Donovan, Excavating: Graham Webster
! Wilder Center
Are there any concerns about which the Foundation should be aware?
We are trying to address renovations to support ADA access, electrical and fire safety issues this summer as well as to
renovate the windows. We will seek grant funding from other foundations and the local community which may require
matching funds. In general the public has been very enthusiastic with support, but this will be a big push to complete
enough repairs to actually open the schoolhouse to the public.
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Project Information
Use space provided at the end of the application, if you wish to provide additional information about any of the following.
What building/project would this grant fund?
This Project would enable historically accurate restoration of all windows at the Root Schoolhouse in Norwich,
Vermont. The Schoolhouse recently was set upon a new foundation, which gives the opportunity with a few more
renovations to open the schoolhouse to the public after nine years of local fundraising. The Root District Game Club,
owners of the Schoolhouse, wish to preserve as much as is practical the original layout and features of the building
while providing access to the public for cultural, community, and educational programs. The windows are a vital part of
the history and ambience. The large bank of south facing windows in particular, with a view of a historic farm at
Goodrich Four Corners, lets in an ample and welcome amount of natural sunlight while at the same time giving
perspective into the past. This schoolhouse was built on the site of an earlier one that burned, and at the time of its
construction in 1937 was deemed “a state of the art design” by the Vermont Department of Education. At this time the
windows are in need of repair both to the sashes and to some of the window panes. Repair at this time would be very
timely before further deterioration occurs, and would be attractive to community members whom we hope will use and
preserve the schoolhouse for years to come.
Has your organization successfully completed a capital venture of this size in the past? If so, give a brief description,
including the amount raised.
Yes, the Root District Game Club raised $84,000 over nine years with the help of donations from the local community,
fundraising events, and foundation support. This effort was particularly challenging because failure of the foundation
under the schoolhouse meant that it was not safe to hold events there. We had to rely on community memories of what
used to be a vibrant community center. We are hoping to build a new community of people who will use the
schoolhouse and preserve it into the future. Our efforts to preserve the building are closely tied to involvement and
education of the public.
What is the time frame for use of these funds?
Our goal is to obtain funds and hire a contractor to finish this project by September 30th, 2020.
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Will this grant be enough to finish the project? If not, what is your plan for obtaining the necessary funds to complete
this project? List matching funding sources and amount. Indicate: received, pledged or sought.
This grant will be enough to finish the project. We solicited three bids that came in at $9475 (Thomas Mcloughlin
LLC), $25,352.25 (Vermont Window Restoration), and a verbal quote of $30,000 (Sally Fishburn).
The RDGC Board has carefully evaluated the bids. We need to complete the work this year and Sally Fishburn is not
available, so that one is eliminated.
Our Board President reached out to Thomas McLoughlin with additional questions about finishing both the inside and
outside surfaces and structures of the windows. His initial estimate was $9475 for the exterior work. Adding finish
work to the inside of the sashes is an additional $1675. The total for the Thomas McLoughlin estimate is $11,150.
As there is a wide range between the two bids for work that can be done this year we decided to request the maximum
amount of $10,000 from the 1772 Foundation
As of March 3, 2020 have $11,148 cash in our bank account, so we can cover the match for the Vermont Window
Restoration estimate with cash although it will draw down our maintenance funds until we can do a bit more
fundraising.
We will apply to the Mascoma Bank Foundation for a match (up to an allowable maximum of $15,000). There is an
April 1st deadline for this application. We were awarded $5000 by this foundation in 2016 for our foundation repair
effort.
Narrative: The narrative should include a brief history of the site and a description of the project for which you seek
funding, including measurable goals and objectives. The narrative should address the following:
• A brief overview of the structure’s history and current use.
• What is unique or special about this structure?
• What is your organization’s role in preserving this structure?
• Have you received all necessary permits for the project – Town, State, historic preservation easement
provisions, etc.?
• Does the applicant organization have the capacity to use these funds wisely?
• Most importantly, make sure that your proposal explains why this project matters.
If you need additional space to complete the narrative, please use the following page.
The Root Schoolhouse in Norwich, Vermont is a one-room schoolhouse built in 1937 and added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 2013. The building was used as a school until 1945, then as a community center from
1952 to 2011, when it was closed for all public use due to its deteriorating foundation. The Root District Game Club,
caretakers and owners of the building since 1952 and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is working to save the
schoolhouse and return it to public use. There used to be twenty school districts in Norwich, each with a small
schoolhouse within walking distance to neighborhood children. Most of these structures are now cellar holes only. One
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has been converted to a private home, one is preserved but not used by the public, and then there is the Beaver Meadow
Schoolhouse that is lovingly preserved and actively used as a community center. We would like to follow the lead of
our Beaver Meadow neighbors and preserve this bit of Norwich history through careful preservation and active use by
the public. We wish to reopen the schoolhouse to the public in the fall of 2020.
The Root District Game Club is the owner of the Root Schoolhouse. When the Norwich School District consolidated
schools in the 1940s the Root Schoolhouse was no longer used for instructional purposes. The Root District Game Club
was a hunting club in the Goodrich Four Corners area that in 1952 bought the schoolhouse to use as a clubhouse. Over
the years the schoolhouse was used for general community events and a local riding club before the foundation failure
forced this use to end. The present board of the RDGC is composed of concerned neighbors, many of whom fondly
remember the community events. All board members are interested in historic preservation in Norwich and many are
Norwich Historical Society members. We have a shared vision of enabling cultural, educational, and community events
to be held in a preserved and functional schoolhouse.
We have not yet applied for permits as we are still in the fundraising stage. We have thoroughly researched occupancy,
fire and emergency permits and have been in frequent communication with the relevant officials. We are aware of code
requirements for the updated electrical work that is a part of additional renovations beyond the scope of this grant
request.
We have the capacity to use the funds wisely. Board members have financial, historic, construction, and neighborhood
knowledge. We managed to raise significant funds from a variety of sources to replace the foundation under the
difficult circumstance of not being able to open the building to the public. We carefully document financial
accountings, minutes of meetings, and other information on a Google Drive. We maintain a website and mailing list.
This project matters on a number of levels. Goodrich Four Corners neighbors can either discover or rediscover the
excitement and fellowship of having a local and historic community center. Residents of Norwich are very aware of and
highly value the historic significance of structures and neighborhoods in town. Citizens of Vermont or any interested
person can learn about past educational methods in Vermont, as reflected in the configuration of the schoolhouse,
surviving artifacts, and testimony from schoolhouse attendees documented in the film “Back to School: Lessons from
Norwich’s One Room Schoolhouses” produced in conjunction with Historic New England and CATV. One room
schoolhouses are the stuff of legend as portrayed in literature by Howard Frank Moser in “Northern Borders,” Dorothy
Canfield Fisher in “Understood Betsy,” and Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Farmer Boy” and “The Long Winter”. The Root
Schoolhouse provides a concrete example of the type of setting for these stories. Preservation of this schoolhouse will
not only preserve an historic structure but will provide for ongoing community involvement and education about
Vermont history, especially as it pertains to changes in education.
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Continue narrative.
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Have you completed a cyclical maintenance plan? When was it updated and who prepared it?
We have completed a renovation plan through 2021 that was discussed by the Root District Game Club Board and put
into a calendar matrix by Board member Carla Vincent.
We do not have a cyclical maintenance plan at this time except to plan for renovation costs and to pay insurance. When
we are able to open the building to the public and rebuild our community we will reengage our membership, start a
stewardship fund, and plan for cyclical maintenance. This process will unfold over this year and next.
Upcoming improvements such as electrical and ADA access will allow public access. We will then be able to grow our
donor base. That will put us in a better position to create an ongoing capital improvement and maintenance fund and to
save and plan ahead for items such as roof shingle replacement and interior and exterior painting. Except for the
windows the condition of the building is stable. The frame, floors, walls, roof, doors, chimney do not need immediate
attention.
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How are you factoring climate change into your preservation efforts overall and into this project in particular?
As part of the foundation renovation a drainage system was installed to move excess run off around and underneath the
building. This should be a great help during increasing rainfall events. Trees were removed from the hill behind the
building which could have blown over in storms. The building has a mansard roof with one side facing due south which
could support solar panels. The schoolhouse space could function as a small community space in case of a natural
disaster. It also can be a space to educate others about efforts to mitigate climate change.
Project Budget: (Include project estimate and provider of estimate, sources and amounts of funds secured, and amount
requested from The 1772 Foundation.)
Project Estimate: $11,150 from Thomas McLoughlin, LLC
Project Estimate number two: $25,352.25 from Vermont Window Restoration
Project Estimate three: $31,006 from Sally Fishburn,
1772 Foundation: $10,000 match for renovations done by Vermont Window Restoration.
Root District Game Club cash balance as of March 3, 2020 is $11,148, so it is possible for us to provide a cash match.
We also will reach out to the Mascoma Bank Foundation, for up to $15,000 in matching funds. Their application
deadline is April 1, 2020.
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Using your audited financial statements or Form 990, please provide the following information:
$ Annual Operating Costs (Actual) 5,934
$ Net Assets 289,453
$ Operating Budget for Last Fiscal Year 7,085
$ Endowment 0
Cash Flow
$ Cash $7,393
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$ Accounts Receivable 0
$ Total of Above $7,393
$ Current Liabilities 0
Ratio (Total of Above / Current Liabilities) n/a
If ratio is less than one, use space provided at the end of the application to explain.
Unrestricted Net Assets
$ Total Operating Expenses 5,934
$ Monthly Operating Expenses (Total Expenses / 12) 494
$ Unrestricted Net Assets 289,453
$ Facilities and Equipment 282,060
$ Unrestricted Net Assets minus Facilities and Equipment 7,934
Months of Covered Expenses (Unrestricted Net Assets 15
minus Facilities and Equipment / Monthly Operating
Expenses)
If the number above is less than three, use space provided at the end of the application to explain.
Efficiency
$ Program Expenses 0
$ Total Expenses 5,934
% Program Expenses n/a
If less than 65%, use space provided at the end of the application to explain.
Fundraising Efficiency
$ Fundraising Expenses 0
$ Total Contributions/Revenues $12,438
% Fundraising Expenses n/a
If over 35%, use space provided at the end of the application to explain.
Debt
$ Loans and Notes Payable 0
$ Net Assets $289,453
Debt to Asset Ratio (Loans and Notes / Net Assets) n/a
If ratio is greater than one, use space provided at the end of the application to explain.
Previous Year Comparisons
Current Year $ Previous Year $ Variance $ Variance %
Support/Revenues Current-Previous Variance $ /
Previous Year
Investment Income 0 0 0 0
Grants & Other Revenues 12,438 2,654 9793 370%
Assets
Unrestricted Net Assets $289,453 $282,949 6,504 2%
Total Net Assets $289,453 $282,949 6,504 2%
Condition you are trying to address:
We are trying to restore all of the windows in the Root District Schoolhouse to a durable and historically accurate
standard. This meets objectives of preserving the building for historic reasons as well as to make it functional for
community and cultural events. At this point we have many restoration needs and a small nest egg, so we are seeking
foundation funding from several organizations in order to reopen with a safe, accessible, preserved, historic, attractive
space. The window restoration project is an important component of this strategy.
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Explanations, comments, etc.
In the financial section we have no program expenses because the building has not yet reopened to the public.
Our operating budget is very small, including minimal insurance and mailing costs. Our fundraising and grant funds
have all gone into foundation repair.
The 2019 valuation of the schoolhouse and lot is $282,060. The RDGC has been able to petition for tax exempt status
on an ongoing basis.
With your application, email three images in .jpg format that best illustrate your project. One image should depict the
front façade.
Also, email a copy of the contractor's proposal for the scope of the work described in the application.
Please email your completed application and accompanying material to: elise@ptvermont.org
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Verify receipt by the Preservation Trust of Vermont by calling 802-658-6647.
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