Grants

A Team Effort

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” 
- William Arthur Ward

Each time BHPS has received a grant, we know our good fortune was a disappointment to another organization who was not funded. We have been there as well. And, we know that the selection committees who ultimately decide who gets—or doesn’t get-- a grant make really difficult decisions; there is only so much money to be distributed.  So, to all those organizations or Foundations who awarded BHPS a grant, we are truly thankful for the trust you put in our organization. We will not let you down as we put your funds to work for our organization and our community. Preserving our history isn’t a one person job - it’s truly a team effort - and we thank you for being part of the team!

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $30,000
      This OLF grant provided funds for BHPS to make repairs that eliminated water/moisture problems causing damage in the 1892 Abernathy House. The project includes repairs to both chimneys and the exterior limestone foundation walls followed by regrading of the lawn.

    • Wapello County Board of Supervisors - $2,000
      The Board of Supervisors provided funding to design and create an Historic Hills Scenic Byway  interpretive panel for the 1892 Abernathy House. 

    • Wapello County Non-Endowed Fund of the Wapello County Foundation - $5,603.34 
      Wapello County Foundation -$5,396.66

      These two grants collectively provided $11,000 to BHPS to restore the formal dining room of the Abernathy House to its Victorian Period decor and then furnish it with authentic period antiques and decorative arts.

    • Court Hill Preservation Association - $5,000
      This matching grant from the Court Hill Preservation Association was used to purchase antique, period furnishings for the newly acquired Abernathy House.

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $5,000
      This Capacity Building Grant funded the development of a BHPS web-site, with content friendly to search engines and including capabilities for revenue generation and donation opportunities.

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $1,500
      This Non-Profit Pandemic Support Grant allowed BHPS to recoup some of the lost revenue associated with COVID-related activities and closures at the Museum.

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $5,000
      The Capacity Building Grant from Ottumwa Legacy Foundation funded an opportunity for BHPS to work with a facilitator to evaluate expansion options and develop a 3-5 year strategic plan for the organization.

    • Wapello County Board of Supervisors - $1,000
      These funds allowed BHPS to inventory and electronically document our expanding inventory of artifacts.

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $7,000
      This grant supplemented the effort by siblings Joellyn (Hunter) Barton, CDR Gerald F. Hunter USN (Ret) and Jane (Hunter) Gilbert who collectively were funding the construction of an efficiency kitchen in the Museum. A problem with the limestone foundation supporting the west wall of the kitchen necessitated a fix. This grant from the Ottumwa Legacy Foundation allowed BHPS to dig out the foundation wall and replace it with a cinder block wall so the kitchen construction could continue successfully.

    • Wapello County Foundation - $3,247.00
      To make our operational funds stretch by reducing heating/cooling costs, the WCF grant provided funding for spray foam insulation in the Museum attic and to purchase and install new storm windows and doors.

    • Ottumwa Legacy Foundation - $13,000
      This grant was another infrastructure project. It funded the trenching of water and sewer lines into the Museum as well as the construction of an ADA uni-sex bathroom–necessities for a public space.

    • Alliant Energy - $2,000
      Technology Grant: The grant from Alliant Energy allowed BHPS to purchase a commercial copier/printer/scanner. Not only did this save BHPS significant operational expense, but copy services also were made available to the Blakesburg community at a reduced cost.

    • USDA Matching Grant, City of Blakesburg, BHPS - $10,000
      The USDA grant allowed us to hire electricians and bring the minimal and outdated wiring in the Museum up to code. This grant also funded the installation of an HVAC system in preparation to have the building function as a Museum open to the public.