Sulphur Springs receives AHPP grant
SULPHUR SPRINGS — The city of Sulphur Springs was awarded a $33,733 Historic Preservation Restoration Grant for window restoration at the old Sulphur Springs school. The grant is one of 31 awarded by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to rehabilitate buildings listed on the Arkansas or National Registers of Historic Places and owned by local governments or not-forprofit organizations.
Shane Weber, Sulphur Springs mayor, said the city is now working with engineers in planning for restoration of the building, following strict guidelines set forth by the National Register. The school building now houses the Sulphur Springs City Offices, a city council meeting room, Sulphur Springs Police Department and the Sulphur Springs Public Library. One room is still furnished as it was when the building was used as the town’s school.
The structure served as the Sulphur Springs School until it was consolidated with the Gravette School District in 1965. Classrooms were used for elementary classes until 1975. Later the building was deeded to the city of Sulphur Springs.
Weber said the $33,733 AHPP grant will actually cover repairs on only one side of the building. Total cost of the project will be about $50,000. Cassie Elliott, with Visionary Milestones, was the grant writer and she is continuing to pursue other grants to help fund the remainder of the needed work.
Weber said he is excited about upcoming projects planned in the city. A $1,200 grant was received for rebuilding the pedestrian park entrance and arch. Work is being done on the concrete walkway into the park, with about 10 of 40 yards of needed concrete already poured.
“The next big project I am wanting to work on is a downtown beautification project,” Weber said, “redoing the sidewalks and roads on Hibler Street and Patterson Street.”
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, awarded more than $2.8 million in grants for projects in 47 counties. The Historic Preservation Restoration Grants accounted for $960,853 of that amount.
For more information on AHPP grant programs, write the agency at 1500 North Street, Little Rock, AR 72001; call 501-3249880; email info@arkansaspreservation.org; or visit www.arkansaspreservation.org.