A Gift and a Grant

​At the Annual Meeting of the Canton Historical Society, Paul Mitcheroney, president of the Society announced two new major funding sources for the David and Abigail Tilden preservation project. The Society has received the largest single private donation to date. A $25,000 gift was received as a tribute to the Alexander Family that lived at the historic house during most of the 20th century. Donated by Charles Alexander Jr. and Daniel Alexander, the donation has been made in the memory of their parents, Charlie and Sylvia Alexander who lived in the Tilden House when it was part of the Draper Estate through much of the 1900’s.
 
“We wanted to commemorate the fact that my parents were part of Canton’s rich history, and forever tied to the preservation of the family home,” said Charles “Chuck” Alexander. The donation will be used as part of the Phase II preservation efforts and will be earmarked for interpretation special projects. Chuck Alexander, along with more than two-dozen family members visited the Tilden House in September as part of a long planned family reunion. The progress at the house was a solid testament to the commitment by the Canton Historical Society for the preservation of this first-period home.
 
This same week, the Historical Society was made aware of a $25,000 earmark in the FY22 State Budget administered through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. State Representative William Galvin requested the funding as a commitment to local and regional tourism. The earmark will be used to support the ongoing preservation carpentry, window installation and building systems at this project. “Representative Galvin has been a stalwart supporter of this project,” said George Comeau, curator and project director. “Bill Galvin has been responsible for supporting more than $125,000.00 for this project and has a keen commitment to historic preservation.”
 
To date, the project has received more than $175,000 in state funds that have leveraged the Community Preservation Grants awarded in two phases at past Annual Town Meetings. In addition, the project has been awarded private grants and built on donations from individuals that have totaled more than $70,000 over the course of the last several years. Phase II of the project includes an accessible bathroom, interior preservation, landscaping, exhibit design and the installation of all major systems. Handcrafted windows made by the students at the North Bennett Street School are being installed now through November. The remaining windows will be made over the winter and installed in the spring. The long-term care and management of the Tilden House is made possible by a lease by the Town of Canton the Canton Historical Society. The house will be used as a study house and be the location for special programs and historic events. Completion of the restoration project is slated for 2025.

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