Phase I - CPA Funding- $414,000 
Preservation Projects Grant - $50,000
State Earmark - $100,000  
Private Fundraising - $23,000

​Phase II - CPA Funding Request - $450,000

Key to this project is a significant investment in the history of this building. Funding has been provided by a grant from the Community Preservation Act through the Canton Community Preservation Committee and the Annual Town Meeting of 2015. An abridged CPA Application is available for download as well as a project narrative. Below are the project highlights and goals.  Additional funding sources include the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund and an earmark from the State Legislature through the FY19 budget.  Phase I was completed in October 2019. 

Phase II - design is underway and estimates have been completed. The CCPC voted to recommend CPA funding in the amount of $450,000 to undertake Phase II restoration activities at the Tilden House. The second phase of work at the Tilden House project will focus on the interior of the historic home, including utilities, windows, flooring and finishes. Phase II also includes historical interpretation and measures to make the building ADA compliant. The scope and budget for the second round of work at this property were developed in collaboration with the project’s consulting architects and general contractor. This is the final request for CPA funding of the Tilden restoration work.

This site tracks progress and our blog is maintained to share the progress and history with the community. This project has been identified as a priority within the Canton Community Preservation Plan. 
Project goals
  1. Preserve the David Tilden House as a significant cultural, architectural and historical building within the Town of Canton and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. Raise awareness of this First Period home and understand as well as interpret this structure in the historical context of early 18th Century life in the area that is now Canton. 
  3. Use primarily wood-frame techniques as part of the preservation of the structure. 
  4. Wherever possible engage this project as an educational experience for building techniques used in the early 18th Century
  5. Create a living classroom, small meeting space and historic study house within one of the oldest wood frame houses in America.
  6. Provide state-of-the-art public facilities through the use of eco-friendly systems for use as part of the house and the lower fields.
  7. Return the building fully preserved for future generations to appreciate.
Project Timeline 2014 - 2017
  • December 2014 - Presentation before the Canton Community Preservation Act Committee (CCPC) 
  • January 2015 - Vote of the CCPA Committee - successfully gained a vote to recommend $414,150.00 for the project. 
  • May 18, 2015 - Annual Town Meeting - Article 19 - successfully approved $414,150.00 for phase one of the project. 
  • May 2015 – working with Board of Selectmen and Building Renovations Committee - RFQ - development of a detailed project specification, historic structure report distributed to qualified historic preservation firms. RFQ has been issued and detailed responses are due no later than July 15th at 3:00 pm. (Click here to download RFQ)
  • September 2015 – Award bid for Historic Structures Report and detailed specifications to qualified applicant. The architectural firm of Spencer & Vogt has been awarded the contract for the Historic Structures Report and Building Specifications. (Click here to download their qualifications.
  • October - December 2016 -  Historic Structures Report  - Completed
  • January - February 2017 -  Design Development - Completed
  • April 2017 - Annual Town Meeting permits the Board of Selectmen to lease the Tilden House to an organization dedicated to preservation.  Next steps include developing a lease arrangement and public bid process. 
  • June 2017 - Construction Documents - 80% Completion
Project Timeline 2018 - 2019
  • March 2018 - Lease RFP is issued and Canton Historical Society answers the RFP for the Tilden House for 25 year lease. 
  • March 23, 2018 - Canton Historical Society, Inc.  requests $100,000 matching funds through the Mass. Preservation Project Fund - Round 24.
  • May - July 2018 - Representative William Galvin and Senator Walter Timilty file earmark in state budget for $100,000.  Earmark passes and is sent to Governor Baker. 
  • May 2018 - Annual Town Meeting approved transfer of dedicated CPA funds to lessee. 
  • June 12, 2018 - Massachusetts Historical Commission Awards $50,000 Preservation Project Grant to the Canton Historical Society.
  • June 26, 2018 - Canton Board of Selectmen assign a 25-year lease to the Canton Historical Society. 
  • July 26, 2018 - Governor Baker vetoes earmark.
  • July 30, 2018 - House overrides veto. Senate overrides veto on July 30, 2018.  $100,000 earmarked in FY19 Budget
  • October 2018 - Complete architectural plans and bid documents 
  • October 2018 - Bidding and Filed Sub-bids - received
  • June - July 2018 - Develop and file Preservation Restriction with MHC - Signed and pending recording 
  • November 29, 2018 - Award General Contractor Contract - Gerard O'Dohery Construction, Lincoln, MA 
  • December 2018 - July 2019 - demolition, carpentry, and Phase One work begins
  • January 2019 - building permit issued - Phase I - Underway 
  • October 2019 - Phase I - Stabilization completed 
  • June 2020 - Phase II - Interior, Exhibit  & Accessibility - CPA Request - Annual Town Meeting
Project timeline 2020 - 2022
June 2020 - Community Preservation Funding Request - Phase II
Copyright 2022
The Canton Historical Society, Inc.  
1400 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021