Update on the Cavendish Stone Church Project 6/12/14

The deed of the Cavendish “Stone”  Church has been transferred to the town. Below is a progress report on the activities that are underway to prepare the building to be used as the permanent home of the Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn exhibit, as well as a small venue for concerts, lectures and other uses by the Cavendish community:

• Working with the Vermont Preservation Trust, an evaluation was done of the building and a restoration plan developed. The issue with the pigeons has been resolved and the building has been appropriately cleaned. Slate repair on the roof was undertaken in the fall. The estimated cost of these three activities was $5,949. Through grants and in-kind contributions, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) paid $2,699. The next step is to repair the cupola. We are waiting on estimates. Once these are obtained, we will be talking to several local foundations about underwriting this cost, which has been estimated to be $14,000

• This spring, additional cleaning of the interior was carried out and an inventory and appraisal made of the Church’s content. We are currently discussing what should be done, including the sale of some of the items, with residents having first right of refusal.

• The book, The Writer Who Changed History: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, for students in grades 4-7 has been written as part of CHS’s Solzhenitsyn project “I wrote and waited.” All proceeds of the sale of the book will goes towards this initiative, including upkeep and exhibit space at the Stone Church. The book is undergoing its final edit and it is anticipated that it will be available for international distribution by Christmas.

• The building is in very good shape and is available for public use. If interested, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.