Sen. Kissel: Hazardville Institute Receives Grant from Historic Preservation Group

Senator Kissel presents check to Hazardville Institute from CT Trust for Historic Preservation
Senator John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) recently toured the site of the Hazardville Institute in the Hazardville section of Enfield and participated in presenting the Hazardville Institute Conservancy Society Inc. with a $5000 Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grant administered through the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.

“The Hazardville Institute someday will once again be a great asset to our community and I am happy that the CT Trust for Historic Preservation has taken note of the volunteers’ efforts and provided this grant money. There are many people working to rehabilitate this building and get the Institute back up on its feet and it was really a joy to meet with Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall of the Conservancy and tour this historic building.” said Sen. Kissel.

The Hazardville Institute was established in 1869 as a center for community activity, but was eventually abandoned and in danger of being demolished. In 1999 the Hazardville Institute Conservancy Society Inc. was formed and a group of individuals took up the task of saving and restoring the old building. In 2004 the town of Enfield approved $125,000 for structural repairs, and the Connecticut Department of Social Services provided $300,000 in bond money for a new roof and other repairs. The $5,000 grant from the CT Trust for Historic Preservation is 50/50 matching grant and will be used to conduct a comprehensive study and create a development plan to guide the Conservancy in the complete restoration of the Hazardville Institute.

“Enfield and north-central Connecticut have many historic sites and I am hopeful that many more of these old buildings will be restored and preserved,” said Sen. Kissel. “It really is a beautiful town and I applaud the efforts of the Hazardville Institute Conservancy and look forward to watching all of their hard work come to fruition.”

The CT Trust for Historic Preservation administered $325,260 in Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grants this year to support efforts that help communities and organizations preserve, restore, and rehabilitate historic buildings in Connecticut.