VITAL PATHWAYS

Vital Pathways signs agreement with the Reed School Restoration Committee of Amity

Four members of the Reed School Committee of Amity recently met with the Vital Pathways Board of Directors to sign a Memo of Agreement.  The agreement means Vital Pathways will now act as a fiscal agent for the committee who is continuing their ongoing efforts to raise funds to restore the school.

Committee Chairperson Bette Bickford said signing the agreement is a move in the right direction for the school, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“From the outside looking in it seems like things have been quiet around the school,” Bickford commented, “but we’ve been extremely busy preparing to develop the goals we have set for the school project. This partnership with Vital Pathways will help us to realize these goals.”

Bickford went on to explain the committee’s long-range plans for the Reed School.

“Our ongoing objective is to continue to garner funding to proceed with the restoration,” she explained. “Although the Reed School has been in operation since 1837, our present goal is to preserve it to its 1930’s condition.  We see a real need to get the restoration process under way in the near future because each winter and the onset of arbitrary weather worsens the school’s condition.”

Bickford also said the committee wants to expand on the Reed School’s usefulness.

“We see a variety of uses for the restored school building, other than its present primary use as a place to hold town meetings,” Bickford stated. “We would like to see the school used as a community building for arts & crafts exhibits, as a gathering place for local celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and showers, as a location for pot lucks and family reunions, as a historical education center set up with period desks and educational tools, as a meeting hall for public and private meetings, and as an educational center that would suit any arising community need. This goes hand in hand with the Reed School Project’s Mission which is: The restoration of the Historic Reed School in North Amity, Maine, preserving the school in its historical form, thereby creating a viable meeting house and community building for the town.”

Committee Treasurer Larry Hamilton says the committee hopes to expand their fundraising efforts by applying for more grants and by giving donors a tax write off for their donations.

“We ultimately want to give the community something to be proud of,” Hamilton commented.

Hamilton elaborated in saying that the Reed School renovation is estimated to cost $250,000. He added that the committee has raised over $9,000 to date and is in the process of applying for major grant funding to keep the project on track.

“The money we have raised thus far will be used as matching funds and to begin work on the restoration project,” Hamilton stated. “The foundation of the school will be the first part of this process which will involve raising the school, pouring a foundation, rocking it, and replacing the school back on the new foundation. Our facilities survey estimated that at least $50,000 will be necessary to complete the foundation work.”

Vital Pathways Chairman Don Collins noted that his organization has been a huge supporter of the Reed School Project since its inception. In fact, Vital Pathways awarded the Reed School Committee a $250 Accent on Assets mini-grant in 2004 in support of the facilities survey the committee commissioned for the school.

The Reed School is currently used for Town Meetings, Amity Friendship Day, Committee Meetings, Anniversary & Birthday Parties as well as many other Community Events. In fact, Vital Pathways will host their Annual Banquet at the Reed School on June 6.

    Other members of the Reed School Committee present were Debby Cone, secretary, and Amanda Cone. Those wanting to know more about the Reed School Project may contact Bickford at (207) 521-0147 or via email at moms_boss45@hotmail.com with Reed School as a subject.

More info on the one-room Reed Schoolhouse in Amity can be found at Amity Matters and the Reed School web sites

(June 1, 2007)