The Charles Sumner Post #25, Grand Army of the Republic on South Queen Street in Chestertown has been awarded a generous grant of $100,000 by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development through its Community Legacy program.
This grant, overseen by the Town of Chestertown and administered by Kent County Arts Council will provide funds to acquire the building from its owner, Preservation, Inc., and to begin the renovations to make this historic structure ready for building a program to support a vibrant center of performance, display, education and research that honors local African American culture and the country’s Civil War heritage.
This is an effort of KCAC in cooperation with leaders of the African American Community, Town of Chestertown, Kent County Department of Tourism and Economic Development, Main Street Historic Chestertown, Preservation Incorporated, Washington College students in SIFE, and many other interested citizens, from near and far.
With this grant, KCAC will acquire the GAR Building by the fall 2012, at which time the building’s phased renovation program will begin. As fund-raising efforts continue, the project will continue to move towards completion.
Fundraising is still on-going, in order to match funds to develop the Legacy grant and other grants they are seeking.
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