The community has watched in wonder over the past year as the historic but long-vacant Meeting House on Milton Road has been slowly but meticulously repaired. In true preservation spirit, on February 4, the Friends of Rye Meeting House presented a check to the Committee to Save the Bird Homestead to restore the mid-19th century building’s windows.

 

The community has watched in wonder over the past year as the historic but long-vacant Meeting House on Milton Road has been slowly but meticulously repaired. In true preservation spirit, on February 4, the Friends of Rye Meeting House presented a check to the Committee to Save the Bird Homestead to restore the mid-19th century building’s windows.

Sid Burke, representing The Friends of Rye Meeting House, thanked those who made donations and expressed the group’s gratitude for the progress the Committee has made in the restoration of the Meeting House.

“We are very grateful to the Friends for this gift,” said Anne Stillman, President of the Committee to Save the Bird Homestead. “The project, which will move forward in the next few months, will demonstrate the way a careful window restoration can be as energy-efficient as replacement windows, while retaining the true character of a historic building.” She added, “We always like to make our preservation work educational too.”

 

The Friends of Rye Meeting House, Inc. was formed in 2005 to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the Meeting House, which is owned by the City of Rye. In 2010, when the City of Rye signed a 50-year agreement with the Committee for the organization to restore, preserve, and operate the Meeting House for historic, environmental and educational use, the Friends’ function was assumed by the Committee. The Friends of Rye Meeting House, Inc., therefore, intends to dissolve in 2012 and donate all funds remaining after dissolution to the Committee for use in the restoration and preservation of the Meeting House.

 

The Meeting House is used for lectures, workshops, concerts, and guided nature walks organized by the Committee. The building, which currently has an exhibit of historic photographs, is open to the public Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.

 

The Committee to Save the Bird Homestead has been awarded a $250,000 matching grant to restore the roofs of both the Meeting House and the Bird Homestead, which is next door. Anyone wanting to contribute to the continuing restoration of the Meeting House by contributing to the match can send a tax-deductible donation to the Committee to Save the Bird Homestead, Inc., P.O. Box 346, Rye, NY 10580.

 

— Photo by Robin Jovanovich