A major repair project is moving ahead at one of Smiths Falls’ best-known heritage attractions.
Hometown News reports the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario has received an $86,300 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to replace the roof on its historic museum building.
The work is scheduled to begin this fall and is part of a 12-month capital project aimed at protecting the building from the elements.
Museum officials say replacing the roof will also help safeguard collections and visitor spaces while allowing the site to continue welcoming tens of thousands of people each year.
The Trillium funding is not the only support behind the project.
The community has raised another $25,000 through individual donations, while the Town of Smiths Falls has contributed $25,000 as well.
For the museum, the project is about more than stopping leaks.
The historic site helps tell the story of Smiths Falls’ deep railway roots through original buildings, railway equipment, exhibits and collections.
Once complete, the new roof should help keep that history protected and accessible for years to come.
