Otis Historical Commission Wins Another $100,000 Grant from Massachusetts Historical Commission!

By Diane Provenz, Co-chair, Otis Historical Commission

July 2025

We did it again! The Massachusetts Historical Commission has awarded a matching $100,000 grant for the Otis Cultural Center. This puts the Commission’s fund raising over the $1,000,000 mark.

This latest emergency grant will address structural carpentry and steel reinforcement of the belfry framing as well as the installation of a new metal belfry roof.

Many have wondered aloud – what is happening with the former Church that sits at the intersection of Routes 23 and 8? From the outside “not much” but peek underneath and behind the forlorn building. The OHC (Otis Historical Commission) is overjoyed to share what is not visible to the naked eye.

A sound concrete and steel foundation has been installed with the grants obtained from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Mass Historical Commission and the Fitzpatrick Foundation. This building will now stand proudly and firmly in any weather. Underfoot it's well supported. No more will those nasty powder post beetles take up residency and munch on the wooden beams. The foundation will act as a barrier.

Peek around the back area and you will see that the land donated by James Siena and Katia Santibanez has been prepared with additional space to comply with ADA access and an area for a meditation garden or similar attraction.

Ten years of work has gone into the future Otis Cultural Center at Historic St. Paul’s. What you can’t see are the professionals engaged to bring our vision closer to reality: architects, engineers, surveyors, title companies and exterminators.

None of these grants would have happened without our Co-chair, Gail Gelburd, who has brought her many skills to the table and proven to be an invaluable asset in helping us meet our goals. Gail spends hours behind the scenes collecting and collating the documentation for grant submissions. In addition, Joel Meyers has served as the local Project Coordinator for both construction projects – the historic East Otis Schoolhouse and St Paul’s -- to make sure all goes as planned.

The newly established Otis Revitalization Committee will be able to use the future Otis Cultural Center (formerly St Paul’s) as a focal point in the Otis Center Historic District (listed on the National Historic Register). Thanks to the grants noted above, and the efforts of the Otis Preservation Trust, more than $450,000 has been raised this year alone. Once restoration has been completed, the Diocese, which removed the church’s organ, chandelier and other objects, has agreed to return the organ. Kudos to OHC member Hal Kobrin for his diplomatic efforts. With fingers crossed, we remain hopeful for the return of the chandelier.

The “Notice Otis” series continues to showcase our talented residents and others. The Cultural Center will give it a permanent home. Thanks to Otis resident Hilary Harley who has been in charge of finding interesting and talented performers and presenters.

Interested in touching history? Join the Friday group which meets upstairs in the Library under the guidance of OHC member Celeste Watman. Celeste and her group sift through, organize and inventory the treasures to be displayed in a future Otis Museum or adorn the walls at the Cultural Center.

A novel highlight for a future presentation at the Cultural Center is being created by new OHC member Peter Cameron. He has started an exciting new project that will recognize historic properties in Otis. Each house will have a plaque in front to date its construction and a “QR” code or similar link revealing info about its past. History meets the 21st century.

Tom Ragusa, resident Otis historian, continues to place signage on the Knox Trail and achieve recognition for the trail and its historic importance. Passing through Otis, General Knox transported cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston and it changed the tide of our American Revolution. We are a part of that history and it too will be part of Cultural Center presentations. The Knox Trail video, commissioned by your OHC, will premiere August 14 at the Monterey Library. How proud we will be to hold future openings in our own Cultural Center.

We’re looking for people with computer/website, fund raising, event planning and writing skills. Just drop us a line. If you want to join the team. Now, with knowledge of some of our activities, help us reach our goal by donating to the Otis Historical Commission or to Otis Preservation Trust at Optin.today.