Estey Organ Museum

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Preserve America Grant Wrapping Up

After nearly a year of work, The Estey Organ Museum has received final reports from Doug Evelyn and River Town Design. The two reports recommend what the museum needs to do to restore and rehab the factory buildings as well as what needs to be done to create a sustainable museum for the community and beyond.

The museum board is currently reviewing and discussing these reports and will begin implementation in 2008.

Stay tuned for more information.

Estey Organ Museum Hires Museum Consultant

The Estey Organ Museum has hired Douglas Evelyn of Sugar Hill, NH to prepare a Sustainable Growth Plan for the Estey Organ Museum on Birge Street. The project is funded by a Preserve America grant awarded to the Town of Brattleboro by the Federal Department of the Interior’s National Park Service with matching funds from the Town. Brattleboro was awarded status as a Preserve America community in 2005. The Estey Organ Museum has an agreement with the Town to oversee the grant.

Douglas Evelyn brings to this project over 30 years experience at the Smithsonian Institution most recently as Deputy Director of the National Museum of the American Indian 1991-2005. Previously he was Deputy Director of the National Museum of American History and Administrator then Deputy Directory of the National Portrait Gallery.

He is currently a trustee for the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the New York State Historical Association. He has served as President of the American Association of State and Local History; Treasurer of the American Association of Museums and has been a Surveyor for Accreditation and Museum Assessment Programs, American Association of Museums since 1980.

"Mr. Evelyn's experience developing major museums will be of great value to the project, and to Brattleboro" said Christopher Grotke, president of the Estey Organ Museum.

The Estey Organ Factory complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been undergoing revitalization over the past decade. The buildings that have been rehabilitated now house a variety of businesses, apartments, and the Estey Organ Museum.

Estey Organ Museum Hires Architectural Consultant

The Estey Organ Museum has hired River Town Design of Hartford, VT to prepare a Heritage Tourism Master Plan for four buildings in the Estey Organ Complex on Birge Street. The project is funded by a Preserve America grant awarded to the Town of Brattleboro by the Federal Department of the Interior’s National Park Service with matching funds from the Town. Brattleboro was awarded status as a Preserve America community in 2005. The Estey Organ Museum has an agreement with the Town to oversee the grant.

The project team of consultants will be led by George Turner of River Town Design. Turner, a NCARB registered Architect, has 25 years of experience with a particular interest in historic buildings. He has served on the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation since 1998 and is currently vice chair. In 1996 he was awarded the AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture for his work on the Museum of New Hampshire History.

"We were extremely pleased with the quality and depth of the proposals, and are looking forward to working with River Town Design to explore the best way to rehabilitate and reuse these historic factory buildings," said Christopher Grotke, president of the Estey Organ Museum.

Other team members include Mary Jo Llewellyn, Architectural Historian; Peter Stevenson of Peter Stevenson Construction Management; and the North Springfield engineering firm of Stantec Consulting to assist with analysis of building systems and site.

The Estey Organ Factory complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been undergoing revitalization over the past decade. The buildings that have undergone renovations now house a variety of businesses, apartments, and the Estey Organ Museum.

Estey Organ Museum Receives Planning Grants

The Estey Organ Museum has been awarded a Preserve America grant to plan for the adaptive re-use of the historic Estey Factory Buildings. The grant was given to the Town of Brattleboro by the U.S. National Parks Service to explore the idea of a private-public partnership.

The Town of Brattleboro matched the Preserve America grant, expanding the museum's planning capabaility.

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Media Kit

Victorian Organ Image

Early Press Releases

November 27, 2003	Second Annual Holiday Sing-A-Long Scheduled
October 9, 2003	Estey Organ Museum Final Weekend
September 15, 2003	Estey Day Pipe Organ Tour
September 15, 2003	Steinmeyer To Lecture On Bach's Influences
September 15, 2003	Rare Melodeon Donation And Demonstration
July 16, 2003	Estey Organ Museum Summer Programs
July 11, 2003	BUHS Graduate Hired As Summer Director
June 2, 2003	Engine House Gallery Completed
May 15, 2003	Poster Points To Past Progress
November 25, 2002	Estey Organ Museum Board Member Recognized
November 25, 2002	Estey Organ Museum Holiday Sing-A-Long
September 15, 2002:	Brattleboro To Celebrate First Estey Day: Estey Organ Museum Events Honor Legacy
August 31, 2002:	River Cruise With Organ Music: Estey Organ Museum Members Contribute Music To RSVP
August 20, 2002:	Estey Organ Museum Powers On: EOM To Start In Engine Room
July 31, 2002:	Rockingham Annual Pilgrimage: Estey Organ Museum Members Contribute
May 15, 2002:	Free Organ Demonstration/Concert At June Gallery Walk
July 1, 2002:	Music Museum Moves Online

November 25, 2002

Brattleboro Group Establishes Estey Organ Museum - Susan Keese, Vermont Public Radio

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