Traditional Arts in Upstate New York. Traditional Arts of Upstate New York
53 Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 386-4289

Construction

Of Recent Interest

It's getting messier and more exciting every day at The TAUNY Center! Crews are preparing for the elevator, including chipping a hole through the...

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Construction is underway! In the latest developments, Continental Construction crew have demolished the "crow's nest" manager's office toward the back...

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Building The TAUNY Center
When TAUNY moved up the street to 53 Main Street two years ago, it was with exciting plans to create the North Country’s own cultural heritage center there. Finally the first steps are being  taken to make those dreams a reality.

After a lot of careful planning, and thanks to generous support from TAUNY’s members and friends, the first phase of renovations to the former J.J. Newberry store are upon us. Phase 1 renovations include:

•    Renovations to the Main Street façade, including repairs to the second floor windows and interior storm windows.
•    Repairs to the rear façade, including construction of an accessible entrance
•    Construction of an elevator for all three floors and an accessible restroom on the first floor.
•    General electrical upgrade and repairs to the first floor, including refinishing of the hardwood floor.

We also have great plans for Phase 2, to make our building complete for TAUNY programs and services. Among the things we want to do are:

•    Create an archives storage room in the lower level, with climate control and fire suppression systems that meet professional standards.
•    Create a second-floor Education Gallery, with a capacity of 50 people for performances, lectures, classes, and TAUNY or community gatherings for audiences of all ages.
•    Create staff offices and a small meeting room, with demolition and rehabilitation of the interior of the east side of the second floor.
•    Create a studio for recording or listening to audio or video interviews in our archives.
•    Create a reading room for researchers to study archival materials.
•    Complete the first floor kitchen, for social occasions and cooking demonstrations or classes.

All of these improvements are central to TAUNY’s mission to research and preserve a record of North Country life and to educate about the rich heritage we have here.

Renovations Who’s Who
As the pounding begins and the dust starts to fly, we’d like to introduce you to the team responsible for “Building The TAUNY Center””

The architect is Randall Crawford of Crawford & Stearns, Syracuse, a licensed architect with an advanced degree in the history of architecture. In private practice for more than 25 years, Randy’s principal expertise and experience lie in the areas of historic preservation planning and design review, small town revitalization, and commercial revitalization with an emphasis on the sympathetic adaptive reuse of historic properties.

Randy is a frequent speaker on various aspects of historic preservation and has served on the boards of several professional, private, and public boards including the Preservation League of New York State, the Regional Council of Historical Agencies, and the New York Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology.

In recent years, Randy has planned and overseen restoration of numerous historic structures in the North Country, including the Edwards Opera House, Pickens General Store in Heuvelton, and Grace Episcopal Church in Canton.

Working with Randy will be the resident inspector for the project, Jim O’Neill of C. W. Augustine, Inc, of DeKalb Junction.

At their July 22 meeting, the TAUNY Board voted to award the contract for Phase I renovations to Continental Construction Company of Gouverneur. Started in 1992, Continental has a track record for successful construction and renovation projects in the North Country.

Contintental is a family business, started by Tim Fairbanks who began doing construction work in 1964. The company president is Dave Fairbanks, Tim’s son, but Tim will be the project manager for The TAUNY Center. Continental specializes in mechanical, industrial, and commercial construction, and they have experience with historic preservation renovation projects. Among their recent contracts are Pickens General Store in Heuvelton and 95 Main Street in Canton.
See photos of renovation progress in the the Renovations Photo Gallery.

Learn more about the Evergreen Campaign to raise the money necessary to fund these exciting renovation and follow our Campaign Progress  regularly.

Note: All images, text and other material found in this website © 5561 TAUNY. All rights reserved.