With several donations awarded in the past month, the Sanilac County Historical Society is planning updates for ongoing and new projects alike.
As they move forward with phase two of the Aitken House Project, the society was awarded $6,000 by the Carl and Irene Morath Foundation as a matching grant for the museum’s Giving Tuesday Charitable Donation fundraising total of $7,000 from the general public.
While the first phase of the project included moving the structure from its former address next to Port Sanilac Lighthouse, setting the building on a new foundation, and running sewer, water and electric utility lines, the second phase of the Aitken House project will include outfitting the home with a new functioning kitchen and bathroom; a sidewalk path to access the historic home; and additional renovations for the interior and exterior.
Conclusion of the second phase will mark the full adoption of the Aitken House as the 17th building of Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum.
In addition to that donation, the Historical Society was awarded over $2,000 by the Sanilac County Community Foundation through their 2023 Fall Grant. The money is to be used toward parking lot lighting at Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum.
The new lighting will allow for better visibility and thus better access to evening/late night events at the museum and Barn Theatre. With the Sanilac County Historical Society in the process of a full electrical grid overhaul upgrade and the parking lot lighting project on the bottom of their expense list, they are very grateful for this grant award.
The foundation’s donation has allowed this project to float to the top, with museum’ administration anticipating the new lights will come just ahead of the Barn Theatre’s 2024 Summer Season in Spring of 2024.
