NORWAY — The Friends of the Gingerbread House has initiated a new fundraiser in its effort to restore the Main Street landmark.
The “Sash for Cash” program will be launched from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the house. Board members will talk about the project and accept donations.
Each donor of $50 or more will receive a token knot of sash cord, some from the original window sashes, according to members.
Similar to the successful “Buy a Bundle” program that helped raise money for the new roof, this campaign will help pay to repair all of the original windows.
The restoration of the 65 windows began May 17 when people led by Pat Shearman of the Friends took the first window out of the back of the building. Each window will be restored with its original glass, sills and frame.
Volunteers are removing the windows and preparing them to be steamed. They will be scraped clean, reglazed, primed and repositioned. Some of the sash cords come from original window pulleys.
The project is part of a three-stage, multi-year effort. The Friends of the Gingerbread House, under the name of Norway Landmarks Preservation Society, has been raising money for several years.
The 80- by 20-foot house was built in 1851 by Richard Evans and later bought by Charles Bradley Cummings, founder of the C.B. Cummings & Son dowel mill on Pikes Hill Road, according to a report by Andrea Burns of Norway to Maine Preservation in Portland. Elaborate trim was added in the late 19th century by John Hazen for Cummings.
Robert Sallies and Howard James eventually took ownership of the building, which was behind the Advertiser-Democrat building.
In 2008, C’s Inc., a real estate holding company affiliated with Sun Media Group, publishers of the Sun Journal and Advertiser-Democrat, agreed to delay demolition of the house if someone could move it. The Friends of the Gingerbread House banded together to save it.
In 2011, the house was moved about 950 feet farther up the street near Butters Park.
Anyone who would like to volunteer or has questions can contact the society at norwaylandmarks@gmail.com.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
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- The 65 windows in the historic Gingerbread House on Main Street in Norway are being repaired.
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