Linda Grant of Yarmouth is a hard-working, dedicated, and tireless volunteer. She came to Yarmouth in 1996 and within the span of a few months, joined the Yarmouth Village Improvement Society (VIS) and was asked to serve as Chair of the Preservation Committee.
Today, Linda continues to serve as chair of the committee, where her duties include overseeing the ongoing maintenance and preservation of the Grand Trunk Railroad Station and the Old Baptist Meeting House, seen here. Constructed in 1796, the Old Meeting House was commissioned as a Baptist church and used for more than 100 years. In 1910, the Meeting House was donated to the town and used for town meetings until 1946, when the Village Improvement Society assumed responsibility for its maintenance.
The 1906 Grand Trunk railroad building was purchased by the Yarmouth VIS in 1946 to save it from demolition after the railroad ceased providing passenger service. During the VIS-funded rehabilitation of the station in 2007 and 2012, Linda’s research of original building materials and construction methods assured historical accuracy. During a recent site visit, Maine Preservation Field Services Expert, Chris Closs, noted that “it is the best preserved Grand Trunk Railroad depot in the state.” Today the building retains its original design and character while housing Village Florist & Company.
In her VIS role Linda has solicited contractors, reviewed bids, and managed projects totaling more than $100,000 over a dozen years. Linda has been a VIS “committee-of-one” preserving two of Yarmouth’s most valuable architectural treasures.
In addition, she volunteered countless hours to help design a Town Comprehensive Plan that protects the historic village of Yarmouth while planning for its future, and she worked on the Yarmouth Gateways Project from 2006 through 2009. She served on the Royal River Corridor study in 2008 and chaired the 2011 project for the Royal River Park’s interpretive signs. Linda was Chair of the Yarmouth Historical Society Board during the recent renovation of the former Water Company building, a project which resulted in the new Yarmouth History Center on East Elm Street. She has also chaired the historical society’s house tours.
For her many years of dedicated service, in a variety of roles, to the preservation of Yarmouth's historic buildings, Maine Preservation is pleased to present Linda Grant with a 2014 Honor Award for Outstanding Service.
