Reprinted from the Caledonian Record March 23, 2024: The Preservation Trust of Vermont announced Friday that the McIndoeFalls Academy was awarded a $100,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant to rehabilitate the former academy building into a community center. Constructed in 1853, the Greek Revival-style academy building has been the focus of village life for nearly 175 years. The building, which served as a school until 1969, has been stewarded by the Academy Trustees for over 50 years. The rehabilitation of the Academy of Vermont, in partnership with the National Parks Service, is excited to support projects like the McIndoes Academy that will help preserve and revitalize Vermont’s rural communities,” said Ben Doyle, PTV president. “We congratulate the community champions who are leading this work and thank Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, and Congresswoman Balint for their support of this wonderful program. We would also like to acknowledge former Senator Leahy, for his work in establishing this Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior." The program supports the preservation and restoration of buildings and community gathering spaces of economic and social significance in rural communities with fewer than 7500 residents. Additional recipients of the Bruhn Historic Revitalization subgrants include the Marshfield Village Store, the Kimball Public Library in Randolph, the Skinner Block in Royalton, and the Starksboro Village Meeting. “We are glad to see this federal funding support the preservation of historic sites in rural communities throughout Vermont. Each recipient represents a unique part of our state’s history and, thanks to the good work of the PreservationTrust of Vermont, will remain protected and preserved long into the future,” said Sen. Sanders, Sen. Welch, and Rep. Balint. “We look forward to seeing the role these historic community sites will play for generations to come.