Friends of Historic Hopedale
                                    Hopedale, Massachusetts

                                   
Little Red Shop Museum Progress Report

                                                          May 19, 2008

Though the building�s exterior is still temporarily gray, the Friends of Historic Hopedale is pleased to provide you with an update on the renovations of this important historic building.

Late last fall, the contract with Whipple Construction Company was completed.  Whipple�s restoration work, approved by the Massachusetts Historic Commission, included a variety of major construction activities, including shoring up the aging sills, adding a handicapped-accessible bathroom and interior and exterior ramps, installing a new heating and cooling system and insulation, installing the new roof, putting in period-accurate windows, revamping the historic cupola and re-siding the entire building.

With the completion of Whipple�s work, there has been additional progress on interior renovations, volunteerism and collections acquisition for the Little Red Shop Museum. Some of the more notable achievements to date include:

   � Painting of the new handicapped-accessible bathroom and ramp area, walls and ceilings

   � Interior painting and staining of the new window muntins and frames

   � Securing books, pictures and artifacts from the library and town hall for eventual display in the Little Red Shop Museum

   � Installation of a new fire and theft alarm system

   � Arranging for the street hookup of natural gas (to replace the temporary propane system)

   � Securing a commitment for (red!) exterior paint donation from Benjamin-Moore Paints

   � Securing estimates for exterior painting

   � Securing estimates for additional, required electrical work

   � Began investigating museum catalogue and tracking software

   � Continued meeting regularly with the Friends of Historic Hopedale; continued reporting on progress to the Hopedale Historical Commission

   � Created a sub-committee for picture framing and restoration

   � Expanded the membership of the Friends of Historic Hopedale; three new volunteers have stepped forward to assist with photograph cataloguing and framing as well as other tasks.

                               
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