The Owasco Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, which is comprised of members hailing from Skaneateles, Baldwinsville, Camillus, Weedsport, Auburn and communities south and west of Auburn, recently lent a helping hand to the Canastota First Baptist Church.
The church has a robust steeple thanks to a contribution from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The faith community, first organized in 1817, then reorganized in 1868, built its house of worship in 1873 in the High Victorian Gothic Style.
Today the building is in the South Peterboro Street Residential Historic District in Canastota.
When it became apparent that the roof of the steeple needed repair, the congregation looked to preservationist organizations for help with funding, especially since the repair required the use of original materials; in this case, slate.
The Owasco Chapter DAR responded by sponsoring a NSDAR Historic Preservation Grant for the church.
The DAR Historic Preservation Grants provide financial assistance for projects that preserve historic resources, sites and other history-related projects.
Examples include restoration of historic buildings; digitization or preservation of documents/records; preservation of historical items/artifacts; erection of new or rededication/relocation of existing historical markers; cemetery headstone and monument conservation, etc.
Preference is provided to projects related to the Colonial-through-the-Federal period, but those from all chapters of American history are eligible to apply.
The maximum grant is $10,000, and smaller projects are encouraged. Matching grants from other sources are required.
When the work was completed, Rev. Sally Eddy, current pastor of the church and church member, Libby Herritt, attended the chapter meeting and thanked the chapter with a slate memento from the original roof.
The Owasco Chapter meets in Auburn.
