FARMINGTON — A town full of people ready to work together to preserve its rich history has earned the support of the Preserve America Program, Town Manager Richard Davis said Monday.

Farmington received notification last week of its acceptance as a Preserve America Community, Davis said. The letter came from first lady Michelle Obama. It was an original signature, as the ink went through the paper copy, he said.

The letter dated Oct. 7 and addressed to the citizens of Farmington expresses Obama’s appreciation for the town’s “continuing commitment to our Nation’s heritage.”

“The Americans who came before us built this country on the strength of their hopes, hard work and perseverance. Now you are using those same qualities to help share our history with today’s Americans and those of tomorrow. You are showing that each of us has a role to play in shaping a better future, and we can do it by honoring our past,” the letter states.

Farmington becomes one of 10 communities in Maine and about 750 nationwide to receive the honor, which brings with it the ability for the town to access grant funds to help preserve its history, he said.

“By preserving our history, we insure our future,” he said. “This is great news for Farmington.”

Davis began the process of applying for the award two years ago while working on another grant application with a U.S. Department of Agriculture representative who mentioned the Preserve America program. He thought it might provide the town with an opportunity for grant funding for historic preservation, Davis said. He was unaware of the program but began to research more about it.

Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser and Cindy Gelinas, from his department, began working on the application.
They were notified a year ago that some things needed clarification, which then led to last week’s notification of acceptance, he said.

“It seemed like a good fit for Farmington, a town with a lot of history. The whole feel of the town is what I call a brick and granite town, as shown in its architecture. Hopefully the grants will help us to do some nice things to enhance that history,” he said.

One project Davis hopes will benefit from future grant funds is the restoration of the Old North Church project on High St.

Davis expressed his appreciation for a number of groups and individuals who contributed their support for the application, including the Farmington Historical Society, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Farmington Rotary Club, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, state Sen. Walter Gooley, the Greater Franklin Development Corporation and the Farmington Rotary Club.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people working together for the benefit of our community,” he said.

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