“It’s been a long time coming,” Holley resident Arlene Mawn said following ceremonies Wednesday, October 29 in which a $5,000 grant check was presented to the village to help in getting the downtown – including the former Holley High School – listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the first step in a process that is hoped will result in the revitalization of the building.
“I loved every minute of my school years, Mawn remembered about attending the “old school,” built in 1930 and located in the heart of the village at the intersection of Routes 31 and 237.
Mawn attended the ceremonies October 29 wearing her, “I’m from the old school,” sweatshirt. She graduated in 1945 and three of her five children also graduated from the old school before the new school was constructed in the mid-1970s.
“I’m so happy,” she said, now that the school is getting some attention. “I cry every time I see it going to pieces.”
The ceremonial grant check was presented to the village by Tania Werbizky, regional director of the Preservation League of New York State.
“In making this award, the Preservation League is expressing our belief that your project will be of great value to local residents, visitors, building stewards and the state as a whole,” Werbizky says. “We wish you good luck in completing your important work and look forward to seeing the results.”
Werbizky named several reasons why the Village of Holley was chosen to receive the grant, including the fact the village has participated in the state’s Main Street Grant program aimed at renewing the downtown; the project is expected to create a more complete record of village history; and the project holds the promise of inspiring new and needed preservation efforts.
“With this grant, you can better position this 1930 anchor building for redevelopment and help save this building, first identified as worthy of preservation by the Landmark Society of Western NY through its “Five to Revive” program,” Werbizky said.
Landmark Society of Western New York Executive Director Wayne Goodman noted the concept of “heritage” in Holley is undeniable. “Holley has power of place,” he said, and added that making the old school one of the original “Five to Revive,” helps to ensure, “This building gets a new life and adds to the fabric of the community.”
Holley Mayor John Kenney said Bero Architecture of Rochester will provide a survey which will include the building condition of the school as well as many other downtown buildings. Placing the school and downtown district on the National Register would make tax credit programs available to developers.
Mayor Kenney said the village is, “very, very pleased” to receive the grant and called it, “another step in the revitalization which started many years ago.”
