The Engine House is located near the center of the factory complex and was used to power the factory's machines, tools, and other operations.
The museum will undertake a historic assessment of the property to make sure all repairs and rehabilitation conforms to historical preservation standards, continuing in the direction set forth by Barbara George, who purchased and saved many of the Estey buildings.
Owning the property, rather than renting it, is a requirement for many grants for building improvements such as heat and plumbing. Now that the museum owns Building 19 an agressive schedule of fundraising and improvements can begin.
The first of these grants is already complete. The Vermont Arts Council has given the Estey Organ Museum $5,000 for "bricks and mortar" improvements to the Engine House. Other applications are underway.
The museum has been on a roll lately, with the Reed Organ Society's convention at EsteyFest, donations of instruments and artifacts, grants and gifts, and now the first Estey factory building.
Anyone wishing to help can make a personal contribution to the museum's building fund. Donations are tax-deductible. Send a check to the Estey Organ Museum - Building Fund, PO Box 8048, Brattleboro, Vermont, 05304.
[Disclaimer - I'm president of the museum and am biased in favor of seeing this project succeed. Also, thanks to all the lawyers and the folks at BS&L for guiding us along the way.]