Future
 Plans
for renovation include rebuilding the infrastructure: updating
electrical systems; installing a fire protection sprinkler system;
replacing the heating system; improving the bathrooms; replacing
all plumbing; building a small kitchen and replacing the main
water entrance. The interior and exterior will be repaired and
painted. The double staircase in the main hall will be rebuilt
to its original likeness and an elevator will be installed, allowing
handicapped accessibility. A capital campaign with monies raised
from individuals, foundations and state and federal monies will
provide funds to renovate the building. In the future, we will
encourage planned gifts to provide an endowment to help maintain
the building for the next 125 years. A building program manager
will be hired to manage the day-to-day operations when the building
is fully occupied.
"The
Northfield Graded and High School has been an important
cultural center for the community and, until 1994, was in
constant use for more than a century… It is extremely
well preserved on the exterior and even retains most of
its trademark 19th century symmetrical floor plan. The large,
well lit, classrooms are all intact, as are the wainscoting,
fine arched door frames, many of the blackboards, cloak
rooms and even an original movable paneled dividing wall
that retracts on pulleys into the attic to allow two second
floor classrooms to form a large assembly space."
From a letter dated February 1, 2001 from
Lyssa Papazian, Historic Preservation Consultant, Putney,
VT
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