Skaneateles Creamery renovations move forward

Within about one week’s time, members of the Skaneateles Historical Society received word that The Creamery is the recipient of $80,000 in legislative funding.
Sen. John DeFrancisco announced Aug. 13 that he has secured $75,000 for the historical society’s expansion project while Assemblyman Will Barclay made the announcement on Aug. 4 that he was able to secure $5,000 for the continued renovations at the Creamery.
“It’s going to renovate a building that was a blight on the neighborhood,” said Laurie Winship, museum director.
The Creamery, located at 28 Hannum St., was built in 1899. Now, as the historical society’s inventory has grown, the need for additional room has caused the beginning of its biggest fundraiser. The total cost of the renovations to the original creamery building and the construction of the former icehouse, boiler plant and a connector wing are estimated to be close to $700,000.
“(The expansion is) going to double our footprint,” Winship said.
According to treasurer Joan Thomsen, renovations to the creamery would be about $75,000.
“This will be a feeder to the connector and the icehouse,” she said of the main building.
The funding from both political figures has not been earmarked for any particular part of the renovation or expansion, Thomsen said. Rather, the funds are going into a pot to be used as needed on various parts of the project.
While funds received from Barclay and DeFrancisco are helpful, members of the historical society and volunteers continue to hold fundraisers for the project and offer their time and services to the organization.
“We have solicited for grants in several different funding houses,” Thomsen said.
According to Winship, Chase Design, and industrial design firm in Skaneateles, has offered their help to design a display area and produce signage for the displays.
“We’re all volunteers wanting to help,” Thomsen said.
All of the work done on the project thus far has been completed on a volunteer basis, from the architectural designs and drawings to the construction that has begun on the boiler plant. When completed, the boiler will be home to the Boat/Transportation Museum.
By moving the boats that are currently in the main house of the museum, there will be more room to bring other items down from storage on the second floor of the Creamery, said historical society President Karlene Miller. There will also be additional space for items in the connector wing between the boat museum and the Creamery.
Miller, Winship and Thomsen were hopeful the concrete for the boiler plant would be “cured” and construction could begin moving ahead as of Aug. 11.
“Once things get into motion, things are going to go quickly,” Thomsen said. “I’m so excited about the final move-in.”

CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: funding, historical society, The Creamery, Will Barclay, John DeFrancisco
EDITION: Skaneateles Press

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