Funds to support repair of Queen Anne exterior at 26 Fremont Street
MARSHALL, Mich. – The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority today announced a “MAYDAY!” fundraiser to continue repairing and restoring a historic Battle Creek home. The goal of the event is to raise $50,000 to repair the clapboard and ornate trimwork at 26 Fremont Street in Battle Creek. The 1800s Victorian was the site of the Land Bank’s Practical Preservation workshops and Block Build event last summer.
“We accomplished a number of our goals last year during our preservation workshops, however there is still work to be done at 26 Fremont Street and we’re turning to the community for help,” said Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority. “After years of neglect, the intricate trimwork is in need of TLC and in some cases, duplication and replacement. Once repaired encapsulation is required to seal the lead based materials of the past. The task is huge and the work is expensive.”
The “MAYDAY!” event is a distress call for immediate financial assistance to continue this important project and jumpstart a program to restore historic homes in Battle Creek. It will include exclusive, unlimited access to all parts of the building and its amazing features.
Sponsorship levels include:
- Honor Guard – $5,000
- Mission Support – $2,500
- Search & Rescue – $1,000
- First Responders – $500
- Good Samaritan – $250
Each sponsorship level comes with tickets to the event. Individual tickets will be available soon.
As reported by the Battle Creek Enquirer, the home at 26 Fremont Street was built by the Barber family in 1870 and served as the family’s home for 70 years. The What Not Shop, a small local business, operated out of the home during the 1920s. Of the four grand homes that once stood at the corner of Fremont and Frelinghuysen when Battle Creek was a thriving new frontier, 26 Fremont is one of two remaining.
Last summer, the structure served as a learning lab for those interested in learning how to preserve and restore historic homes. The workshops paired residents with skilled tradespeople who taught them how to repair windows, plaster and foundations. To bring the workshops to 26 Fremont, the Land Bank coordinated partnerships with the city and the state as well as non-profit support from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network and the Battle Creek Community Foundation.
“It is our hope that the community rallies around this important project and sees the value of restoring historic assets such as 26 Fremont before it’s too late,” Trout-Edwards said. “Your donation, however big or small, will help retain a significant piece of Battle Creek’s history.”
Tax deductible donations can be made online at https://www.bccfoundation.org/cclb.
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The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority is a separate legal authority that collaborates closely with the Calhoun County Treasurer and local municipalities to eliminate blight improve downtowns and promote local economic development.