HARRISBURG – A grant of more than $77,000 from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) will aid in completing the restoration of Baker Mansion, according to Senator Judy Ward (R-30) and Representative Lou Schmitt (R-79).
The Blair County Historical Society has owned and operated Baker Mansion as a county historical museum for nearly a century, and numerous restoration projects have already been completed to preserve the property for future generations. The new funding will aid in the creation of a public program space in this historic setting.
“The Blair County Historical Society is pleased to accept a matching grant award from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The generous $75,000 match for this award was donated by an anonymous local businessman, for which we are most grateful,” said Board of Directors Chairman Michael Farrow. “We plan to renovate the basement level of Baker Mansion, our headquarters. Specifically upgrading the lecture room and restroom and installing other improvements will enhance space for indoor events. Tourism is the number two industry in Blair County and this grant will improve the experience for local and state visitors. The future is brighter as a result.”
“I am pleased that this PHMC investment will help Baker Mansion to repurpose space for gatherings, educational events, and fundraising efforts,” Ward said. “Through its special events and thematic displays, Baker Mansion is a local historical gem that serves as a center to promote Blair County’s unique and extraordinary heritage. This grant will build on the generous contributions of private donors, supporting the continued progress toward the transformation of this important site.”
“This funding will go far in preserving our county’s history, allowing it to be shared with generations to come,” Schmitt said.
The grants were awarded through PHMC’s Keystone Historic Preservation Grant program, which provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local governments for the planning and development for publicly accessible historic resources listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
CONTACT: Cheryl Schriner (717) 787-5490