The Farwell Project progress Report 2022

Lumber Barn insulated!

Thanks to a generous donation to purchase materials, our dedicated building manager made sure we were shipshape before Common Ground Fair by insulating the open ceiling of the Lumber Barn. Now we can heat it in winter, keep it cool in summer. Thanks to Bob H. and Joe P!

Re-entry crew finishing ceiling & theater seats

Re-Entry Crew is back, doing valuable community work from Waldo County Dept. of Corrections. Their weekly visits mean much in terms of our progress. They built bases for our theater seats, making a 2nd floor space adaptable for, plays, music, stories, meetings. Now they’re sheathing the ceiling of the Lumber Barn, another step toward year-round public use. We’re very grateful for their work. Thanks to Tim, John, Randy and Joe.

Firewood donated by Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Our kind neighbor earmarked the fruits of his chainsaw safety class as firewood to help heat the Museum this winter, while we work to complete exhibits and tighten the building. Thanks Jared, and to Kip P. for cutting!

Game Loft students scrape and stain

The front of the General Store/Museum (above), now scraped as far as the new sign; (thanks, Russ Barber!), stained as high as they could reach w/stepladders. Higher areas come later, w/staging. Thanks to all!

Connector between buildings is restored

The old connector between General Store and Mill, removed during jacking of store, is now replaced in fine style, which means we can all move between the two buildings in winter without having to go outdoors. Thanks to John P and Kip!

Stairs completed to new cellar

New cellar was completed to house letterpress print shop, woodworking shop, and classroom, but we had no access from ground floor. Our trusty building manager completed a rugged staircase between levels, making life much easier. Thanks again, Joe!

ECL students paint seat bases

Students from Ecology Learning Center in Unity come once a month to help. They paint, dig ditches, insulate, create exhibits. In October they painted theater seat bases in 2nd floor Listening Room. Thanks all!

Wireless available for potential office spaces

Belfast & Moosehead Lake RR uses our Lumber Barn as Thorndike Depot during Common Ground Fair, and ticketing on site is necessary. We installed wireless service to all our buildings, with the help of a veteran IT volunteer. This means we can have future office spaces to rent to public, thanks to Paul H!

New cooking stove donated

A fine gas stove was being discarded for the sake of a mouse-nest. The owner was willing to donate as long as we had our propane suppliers check it out for safety. It’s now in our 1st kitchen, awaiting connection. Thanks much to Sally B, to Shaughnessy, Kip, and Jody’s team at Waldo County Oil.

New metal roof on cupola

A grant from Belvedere Foundation enabled us to hire roofers from the Amish Community in Palmyra to install a ‘period-correct’ metal roof to the leaky cupola to match other buildings. Thanks to that hardy crew!

Railcycles!

Farwell’s was the 2022 Railcycle depot for B&MLRR; that brought many people to our doors to pedal 4-wheeled cycles over 3+ miles of track to Knox and back. We hope to continue hosting the cycles; seek more (paid) guides for next year. Big thanks to Dan C., Kip, Phil, Deb, Isaac and Kim for being reliable and caring guides.