CLHO Member News

Keeney Memorial Cultural Center Fire Update

Steady progress toward the full restoration of the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center in Wethersfield is ongoing. The flagship property of Wethersfield Historical Society, the Keeney Center sustained a lightning strike on October 11, 2007. While the strike damage was minimal, the resulting water damage from fire suppression efforts, proved to be considerable. Water soaked into the attic insulation and ceiling tiles on the second floor and leaked into the building’s duct system, ruining sections of the ceilings, walls, and floors on the first and ground levels.

 As reported in the November Bulletin, the museum and antiques communities of Greater Hartford proved invaluable in transporting the historical society’s significant, sensitive collections to off-site climate-controlled storage facilities. J.P. Maguire and Associates led the initial restoration efforts by removing all water-damaged materials from the building and thoroughly drying out all water-soaked areas, a process which took more than a month. Special calibrators and tools that measured water content within the building’s wooden sections accurately determined the need for further dehumidification. Representatives from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation provided technical advice and methodology during the drying process.

 With the Keeney Center dry, the slow restoration process moves forward today. Newly installed monitoring equipment tracks the changes in humidity in all collections spaces and off-site facilities. New insulation and acoustical tiles will replace the damaged ones, wood floors on the first and second floors will be refinished, and rubberized flooring in the building’s two stairwells replaced. Major portions of all three levels need repainting, including the decorative stenciling in Keeney Hall.

 Once restored, the building’s sensitive collections can return, exhibits can again welcome visitors, and the cultural and educational programming can resume. While the list of restoration projects is long, the society hopes to reopen the Keeney Center in April 2008. Director Doug Shipman speaks highly of everyone involved in the recovery and restoration efforts, “We had incredible support. I think it shows you that Wethersfield Historical Society has a good reputation, but more importantly people really value their history and want to save it. There still is a lot of work to be done. This building will be put together as well as, if not a little better than, it was before.”