WATERTOWN, NY — The Sci-Tech Center of Northern New York announced today that it is beginning a major fundraising campaign, to repair the roof of its museum at 154 Stone Street in Watertown, as well as to complete other long overdue building repairs.
With a plan to raise a total of $58,000 before the end of the year, the hands-on science museum has already received commitments for 10% of that goal from the local community. Sci-Tech will now begin soliciting business, industry, foundations and individuals throughout its primary service area, comprising Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties.
Dating back over 100 years, Sci-Techs’ building originally housed Campbell and Lewis, a plumbing and heating company, as well as the meeting hall for the Joe Spratt post of Grand Army of the Republic.
Later, it was the site of Chemical Linings and then the local office of Blue Cross. In
1993, Sci-Tech transformed the building into the North Country’s science museum – a “family-friendly” playground for the mind – with exhibits and activities for children and adults. The building is one of the “contributing” structures to the Public Square Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places.
As a totally volunteer organization, year after year Sci-Tech has used its meager resources to continue its educational activities, such as outreach programming for schools and youth centers; hands-on workshops for children and adults; and telescopic astronomy evenings.
Consequently, only a few additions have been possible to the museums' exhibits, and repairs to the building have been repeatedly put off from one year to the next.
At this point, repairs to the building’s roof can not be further delayed, but must be completed before serious damage occurs. This fundraising campaign will allow those repairs to be performed.
