PUTNEY-The town of Putney, with the Putney Historical Society, recently announced a comprehensive restoration of windows in historic Putney Town Hall.
The project is the first step in a planned comprehensive renovation of Town Hall, built in 1871, with preservation of key historic features and a project goal of making the building an accessible and fully used municipal center for town business, civic events, and meetings while serving as the permanent home for Putney Historical Society operations, programs, and displays.
"The window restoration project is a major first step for the Renovation of Town Hal project. The repair and restoration of 31 windows in Town Hall along with new custom storm windows, will preserve the building's historic aesthetic, improve energy efficiency, reduce building energy cost, and increase occupant comfort," Town Manager Karen Astley said in a news release.
The $120,000 window restoration project is funded in part by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in partnership with the Preservation Trust of Vermont; as well as by the Vermont Historic Preservation Grant Program Funds, administered by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Following a competitive bid process, the window restoration was contracted to Pinnacle Window and Door, a Marlborough, New Hampshire, firm that specializes in historic window restoration. As a subcontractor, Josh Laughlin of Tavern Hill Woodworks of Putney is serving as construction supervisor.
The work will include sequential removal and reinstallation of the existing windows for repair and restoration. Empty window openings will be boarded up or filled with a storm window only while individual windows are being restored. The restored windows will be reinstalled along with new custom-made energy efficient storm windows. To minimize disruption of municipal operations, windows will be removed and re-installed on days when town offices are usually closed for business. The project will continue through the fall.
The comprehensive "Renew Town Hall" project is in final planning stages, of which $919,000 has been raised for Phase I. Renovation not only includes the window restoration but also building envelope insulation and installation of energy efficient heat pumps for controllable heating, cooling and ventilation. Other Phase I work will follow the window restoration.
Detailed planning for Phase II of the project is underway along with ongoing fundraising to support the full renovation of Town Hall. Further information about Renew Town Hall is at putneyvt.gov/government/town_projects_and_research.php.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.