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COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS FOR THE HANCOCK - CLARKE PRE - RESTORATION PROJECT The Lexington Historical Society has requested funding of $25,000 to match a State Historical Commission grant of the same amount to undertake pre - restoration work on the Hancock - Clarke House. The Lexington Historical Society is undertaking a project to restore the Hancock - Clarke House, to provide accessibility (real and virtual) for the disabled, and to determine the feasibility of continued use of the structure for archives and museum storage. These funds allow the Society to engage the services of an architect and architectural historian to develop detailed construction plans and specifications for the restoration. The Hancock - Clarke House, circa 1700, was the Lexington destination of Paul Revere and William Dawes on April 18, 1775. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were the guests of Reverend Jonas Clarke, Lexington's long -time parson and a Revolutionary leader, that evening. The house was saved from destruction by the Society in 1896 and has been owned by the Society and open to the public since that time. It is a National Historic Landmark, on the National and State Register of Historic Places, and is the keystone of Lexington's Hancock - Clarke Historic District. The house has severe structural problems, most notably the separation of beams, wall paneling, and flooring, and bowing of the outside walls due to the weight of the roof on inadequate structural supports. Installation of cables with turnbuckles and a new roof and roof supports will be required to address these problems. Other capital issues that need to be addressed include installation of historically appropriate gutters and rain leaders to address continuing water damage to all sections of the building, and insulation and venting of the attic to prevent ice dams and condensation that contribute to roof failure. As part of the restoration project, the Society will provide accessibility for the disabled and is exploring the possible relocation of its archives and museum storage from the basement of the house. The Hancock - Clarke House is a nationally recognized architectural treasure due to its relatively unspoiled interior and exterior and has been studied and documented extensively for that reason. Its historic significance as a relic of the American Revolution is also nationally recognized. Hundreds of visitors tour the Hancock - Clarke House each year and the Society plans to make it a prominent part of the new education programs it is developing. The House is a critically important part of Lexington's historic heritage. Construction specifications will be completed early in 2007, and the Society's fundraising efforts for the project will begin then. The Society plans to apply to federal and state funding programs designed to assist in the restoration of structures that are of national significance as well as to private foundations. It is likely that the Society will apply for some Community Preservation Act funding as well. If funding is in hand, the restoration will begin in 2008.