September 25, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 15 WCA awarded another historic preservation grant The Waldwick Community Alliance was notified recently that it has been awarded a historic preservation grant from the 1772 Foundation for the second year in a row towards its efforts to restore the his- toric Waldwick Train Station. This year’s grant in the amount of $11,882 is slightly lower than last year’s $15,000 gift. The award must be matched 50/50. The 1772 Foundation provides finan- cial support for endangered properties, including African American History, his- toric preservation in NJ, CT, and RI and agriculture and sustainable food systems. The station project was recommended to the foundation by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board of Trustees. To date the WCA has received a grand total of $515,838 in grants for the proj- ect. These include $293,862 in 2010 and $195,094 in 2011 from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund in addi- tion to the $26,882 from the 1772 Founda- tion. According to WCA Vice President Douglas Cowie, however, between money currently available and grant commit- ments, the WCA needs to raise another $50,000 to complete the restoration proj- ect and be able to open the “Waldwick Museum of Local History.” “The grants are not simply checks that are written to the WCA. It is a reimburse- ment grant which means that the WCA must come up with and spend the money first. Once the specified work is complete and approved, the county then refunds the WCA 75 percent of the amount spent. For this reason, the WCA needs to continue its fundraising efforts,” Cowie stressed. He said the organization has scheduled sev- eral events in the coming months which are expected to net $20,000 – $22,000. These include a Beefsteak Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, Nov. 23; a Wine Tasting social on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 (Tickets on sale now for both events); and the Annual Car Show and Concert on Sunday, June 1, 2014. The WCA is in the process of applying for a General Operations Grant through Bergen County which provides up to $4,000 per year for qualified entities for operating expenses such as insurance, utilities, fundraising and for museum dis- plays. “This is a tremendous stream of fund- ing which helps reduce the burden of over- head,” Cowie noted. Now that contractual issues have been settled with the previous contractor and with some moneys in place, the WCA has scheduled a bid opening on Oct. 3 for the next phase of the restoration project, at which time a new contractor will be selected. Only the contractor will be new; the previous architect and architectural historian will continue through the end of the project. Work in Phase II will include repairs The Waldwick Train Station in its current state of restoration. to exterior trim, the restoration of all win- dows, replacement of all exterior doors, interior and exterior painting, a completely new electrical system, lighting, heating and cooling systems, flooring, exterior site work, new drainage systems, fencing, exterior stairs, an ADA compliant ramp, and landscaping. “We will not know if the current grant commitments coupled with the $50,000 fundraising goal we be enough until after bids come back on the specified work. I am optimistic that with the unforeseen ele- ments of the project now out of the way, pricing for Phase II should come in sub- stantially lower than Phase I,” Cowie said. He added that depending on the pricing, the WCA fully expects to have the Waldwick Museum of Local History open next fall. As the completion goal nears, Cowie said the organization is looking for busi- ness and corporate sponsors as well as res- idents to help raise the additional $50,000 needed in the home stretch. “WCA asks local businesses to donate any way they can; whether it be monetarily through sponsorships or through their ser- vices. Every bit helps. And the WCA is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization, so we can offer a tax deductible receipt for the amount of the donation,” Cowie added. Contact Cowie at 201-873-8919 for sponsorship information and prices and/or to help with the museum.