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Date: 9/14/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Town councilors voted on Sept. 5 to authorize $172,250 in spending from the Community Preservation Fund to repair the Josiah Day House.
“What I liked about this proposal was that it was mostly focused on structural [repairs] and basically protecting it from weather,” said District 1 Councilor Michael Eger, whose district includes the Town Common area and the historical structure at 70 Park St.
Valley Restoration LLC submitted a bid proposing to repair gutters, replace a deteriorated beam in the basement, anchor a brick wall, repair part of the roof, replace a weak floor and seal openings in the outer walls. Historically accurate repairs would also include replacing 12 exterior windows, repairing bricks and repointing mortar in several locations. The contractor will also make a survey of asbestos conditions at the property and install and monitor two crack gauges.
The full bid for the project was $182,250. The Ramapogue Historical Society will pay the remaining $10,000 from its own funds. Valley Restoration’s bid was the only complete proposal; one other contractor made a bid, but did not include the brick work.
A timeline submitted by Valley Restoration to the Community Preservation Committee earlier this summer envisioned the exterior work beginning Aug. 1 and finishing a month later, and the interior work running for two weeks in September.
The Josiah Day House is “the oldest and most historic building in West Springfield,” according to the grant request from the West Springfield Historic Committee. Built in 1754, it is also the oldest known all-brick saltbox house on its original foundation in the United States.
It was the home of Capt. Luke Day Jr., who served in the Revolutionary War and later was second-in-command of rebel forces in Shays’ Rebellion. The Josiah Day House is believed to have hosted some rebel meetings.
It is now operated by Ramapogue, a private nonprofit group consisting of West Springfield residents, as a historical museum. According to the grant request, “the structural integrity of the house is in need of immediate attention,” and failing to make repairs would eventually force the building to close.
West Springfield’s Community Preservation Fund is supported by a surtax on local property taxes, and by matching grants from the state. The money in the fund can only be spent on capital projects for historical preservation, open space conservation, recreation or affordable housing.