GARDINER – Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center was recently awarded a grant by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission New Century Community Program to restore and re-point the back wall, along Mechanic Street.

Johnson Hall successfully sought matching funds and received a grant from Gardiner Savings Institution Foundation. The New Century Community program is a statewide cultural initiative funded by the people of Maine.

Johnson Hall is seeking proposals to work with an architectural historic preservation specialist or historic masonry conservator to assure that project will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The consultant will oversee the actual masonry work as it takes place, preferably in summer or fall. Proposals should be submitted by Feb. 28 to Johnson Hall, P.O. Box 777, Gardiner, ME 04345. Inquiries can be made at 582-7144.

Johnson Hall, an 1864 Italianate building at 280 Water St., is in an early phase of full rehabilitation. The Mechanic Street wall project to repoint, clean and restore broken brick is one of the sections of work that can be done now and is needed for safety, aesthetics or energy conservation.

Other projects recently undertaken were the restoration of the second- and third-floor windows on the Water Street faade, addition of a small marquee and removal of white paint from the east wall.