Philip
Dow, 16, of Windham recently completed his Boy Scout Eagle Scout service
project by constructing an 8-foot by 12-foot addition to a building on the site
of Windham’s future living history park.
Dow,
of Boy Scout troop 51, committed over 100 hours to the Windham Historical
Society by raising money and building the annex. The building is currently
being used for storage, but according to Society vice president Dave Tanguay,
who coordinated the project, it will eventually become a circa 1870s one-room
schoolhouse. The addition, he said, will add to its authenticity by serving as
the entrance and as a “cloakroom”.
Dow
received training in construction by local builder Edward Carignan, who guided
Dow in building an 8-foot by 10-foot storage shed before taking on the task of
constructing the addition. The sale of the shed helped raise funds toward the
cost of constructing the (future schoolhouse) addition. Dow had to raise over $1,100 toward the
building project, and helped direct fellow Scouts through hundreds of hours of
fundraising and building.
The
schoolhouse will eventually be fully furnished with period desks and teaching
materials, and will serve both as a museum and the setting for participants in
a one-room schoolhouse experience.
Asked
why he chose the Windham Historical Society to pursue his candidacy for the Eagle
Scout award, Dow said he and his family were intrigued by the prospect of a
history park, located at Windham Center, and wanted to contribute to its
creation. Other park features may include an early New England barn for the
display of large historical items, a blacksmith shop, old grocery museum, and
an early library.
Dow
and his family will be recognized at the Historical Society’s annual membership
dinner in October. They reside on Land of Nod Road in Windham.
Suggested
caption for accompanying picture: Eagle Scout candidate Philip Dow stands with
local builder Edward Carignan after the completion of Dow’s service project.
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