Erie awarded $37,500 for historical site survey, Old Customs House renovation
Rep. Robert Merski, Rep. Patrick J. Harkins June 9, 2022 | 1:10 PM
ERIE, June 9 – Erie is receiving two grants from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: $25,000 to fund a historical site survey and $12,500 for the first phase of a project to preserve the Erie Art Museum’s Old Customs House, state Reps. Bob Merski and Pat Harkins announced today.
The lawmakers, both D-Erie, said the survey will help bring more of Erie’s past to light.
“While much of Erie’s rich history is memorialized in treasures like the Brig Niagara, Presque Isle Light and Dickson Tavern, other markers of our past have yet to be discovered and preserved,” Merski said. “The survey funded by this grant is going to help us identify all historic resources within the city – including sites and landmarks that may be eligible for National Register of Historic Places designation – so they can add chapters to our unique story.”
Harkins said the Old Customs House renovation is an important preservation project.
“The Old Customs House contains more than 400 of the Erie Art Museum’s pieces and hosts several exhibitions yearly, but the structure is nearly two centuries old, and in significant need of preservation. This funding will help get that important project underway.”
The funding is part of a package of Keystone Historic Preservation Grants awarded statewide and funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. The fund is supported annually from a portion of the state realty transfer tax revenue.
More about the funding is available at this page:
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/PHMC-Details.aspx?newsid=411.