Help Ring The Bell At Lee Academy

Two years and several tens of thousands of dollars later, the restoration of Frederick Lee’s Academy on the Madison Green is entering its final phase. During these two years, many organizations and private citizens have made donations toward the expense of this massive undertaking, but it's not done yet.

The Lee’s Academy restoration is not a just a project of the membership and friends. In a broad sense, the Madison community owns this historic building, the Historical Society is the caretaker of a building that has served the children and public since it was built. The restoration of Lee’s Academy is an opportunity for citizens of Madison to contribute to a this project. Upon completion of the restoration project, in 2012, a plaque will be created listing all donors.

Much progress has already been made.

A sound roof was needed to preserve the structure. Through the generosity of William Plunkett, LLC., and Liberty Cedar of West Kingston, Rhode Island, the labor and materials were donated and our roof was completed in January, 2011.

The siding was covered with layers of lead based paint; clapboards were rotten or compromised. They have now been removed under EPA guidelines.  The first ever insulation and a vapor barrier were secured to the post and beam structure. Half-lap repairs were made to old areas of damage in some of the 200 year old corner posts. As of mid-December, the structure was totally repaired and re-sided.The historic 1821 school house has a new shingle roof and cedar siding.

Still, there is work remaining to be done.

• installation of new, insulated twelve-over-twelve windows,
• scraping and painting of the antique window frames,
• painting the exterior its original white color, and
• stripping, painting, and re-hanging the original shutters.
• Reassembling the mechanisms to ring the bell.

This is a special opportunity for the Madison community to participate in an exciting preservation project.

Tax deductable contributions can be mailed to:

Madison Historical Society

P.O. Box 17
Madison, CT 06443

Secure on-line gifts can be made at www.madisoncthistorical.org

When the restoration is complete, donors will be invited to a re-dedication celebration, and the Lee’s Academy bell will ring out once again across the Green.

This article was submitted by the Madison Historical Society. If you have something you'd like to run, please send it to pem.mcnerney@patch.com.