Grant opportunities

This week has been devoted to search for grants to help with the planning stages of the museum. So far I have found 4-5 opportunities I will be applying for. The first is for preservation of an Indiana structure and has a Dec. 1 deadline. The second is through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There are two opportunities with Feb. 1 deadlines that I think we can apply for. I was disappointed to see that I just missed the NEH grants for planning. But, we can get a head start on next year's Aug. 17th deadline! Finally, I want to check out the World Monument Fund. I think Ahavath Scholom should be a World Monument and I hope the World Monument Fund does too!

Area students build models of Jewish Ligonier

A few weeks ago, after a meeting with the museum committee, I peeked inside the Ahavath Scholom synagogue. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and light was warmly shining in the stained glass windows. I just can't get enough of this building.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a scale-model of the synagogue! I was fascinated by the intricate details of the work; each shingle delicately made of paper, every pane of glass perfectly colored, and all important architectural elements portrayed all to scale. Right beside the model of the synagogue was one of the Solomon Mier house with the same mathematical detail. 

Taking a look at the accompanying labels, the models were not built by an architectural firm, but by West Noble Middle School students! I started thinking, rather dreaming, about all of the programming opportunities the city of Ligonier will have for their students once the museum is underway.