Published: July 03, 2008 08:30 am         

State grant to help restoration effort

By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier

The village will receive $100,000 in state grant funds tohelp with the restoration of the municipal building at 22 Main St. The announcement was made Monday morning by state Sen. James Seward, who called the building ``a very, very important structure in making Cooperstown the picturesque village it is.’’

Seward said the grant was about property tax relief for village residents.

``It’s about helping a local government maintain its offices for the vital services it provides to local taxpayers without hitting the village taxpayers’ wallets,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s also about preserving a beautiful building on Main Street in America’s most perfect village.’’ The building was designed by noted architect Ernest Flagg and built in 1899. According to Village Historian Hugh MacDougall, the building was donated to the village by Robert Sterling Clark in 1932. It featured a gymnasium and was at one time home to exhibits that became the initial displays at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Today the building houses the village clerk, treasurer, justice, police department, watershed office, library and Cooperstown Art Association.

According to village officials, the building is in need of many repairs including the roof, porch, interior and exterior restoration and the modernization of electrical, plumbing and heating systems.

Mayor Carol Waller, who described Seward as ``our adopted village son,’’ said the village has spent close to $400,000 on roof and skylight work which is expected to total as much as $700,000.

``No way could we allow this building to crumble or fall into disrepair,’’ he said. ``We are thrilled and honored,’’ Waller said of the announcement. ``We appreciate Sen. Seward’s attention to our need to maintain our village office as we seek to keep Main Street vibrant and give our departments and the library a safe, secure building.’’ Waller said there is a vision of the building serving as a community gathering place not just for the residents of Cooperstown but also for neighboring towns who use village services like the library.

Rebecca Weil, who chairs the Friends of the Village Library, and Veronica Seaver, who has spearheaded the 22 Main Street restoration effort said the grant was ``very exciting.’’