The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation on Thursday (Aug. 8) presented a check for $7,200 to the Derby Historical Society at the David Humphreys House in Ansonia.
The historical society will use the money to assess the condition of the house, which was built in 1698.
The condition assessment report and architectural plans and specifications will address the challenges facing the Derby Historical Society in determining the scope and direction of their restoration efforts in preserving the deteriorated siding and exterior trim, suspected framing and structural issues, and thermal envelope and environmental systems efficiency.
Mason Lord of Hudson Valley Preservation will be completing the condition assessment.
The house is in need of structural preservation funds to continue to serve the community as a museum and an education center for students from the five towns of the lower Naugatuck Valley and beyond.
The David Humphreys House is a living museum incorporating elements of Lower Naugatuck Valley history from the pre-colonial, colonial, revolutionary, and federal periods.
During the school year, the house hosts fifth grade classes for the society’s acclaimed “Day in 1762” program, an interactive, educational, role-playing program that has allowed thousands of school children to experience colonial life as David Humphreys would have when he was their age.
At Thursday’s check presentation, state Rep. Linda Gentile was awestruck by the community pride and history the David Humphreys House offers to those in the surrounding area and is supportive of the restoration.
Earlier this month, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation approved Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grants, and Maintenance & Repair Grants totaling $209,902 to 21 municipalities and nonprofit organizations.
The grants will make possible a minimum initial investment of $419,804 in these historic sites.
The grants, intended to encourage and support community efforts in planning for the preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic buildings and places, are part of the Trust’s technical assistance program, in collaboration with and with generous funding from the Connecticut General Assembly and the State Historic Preservation office, Department of Economic and Community Development, through the Community Investment Act.
