Preston — The long lingering ownership question finally resolved, the Preston Historical Society now is embarking on a plan to make sure the historic Long Society Meetinghouse makes it through another century.

The meetinghouse, built in 1817 and opened in 1818, is the legacy of Preston’s earliest settlers who made their way eastward from Norwich. The graves of many of those first residents surround the building on three sides – some just a few feet from its fieldstone foundation.

The historical society and town officials settled the ownership question with a title search and legal deed clearing effort, making the historical society the official property owner.

That transaction allows the society to apply for grants for renovation work, and the first successful grant effort, a matching $8,000 grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, has given the society the daunting answer to the major question: What renovations does the building need? Answer: About $180,000 worth of work.

“We hope to go for small pieces,” Christensen said, “and take care of the priority items as funding allows.”

The structural condition report provided by The Architects of Hartford included a list of priority projects, starting with the rear right corner of the building. The land there needs to be graded so that water doesn’t pool against the building as is occurring currently, causing the wooden frame at the foundation to rot.

Once the ground is graded, the building must be jacked up for the foundation and bottom framing repairs.

The society will apply for a $10,000 matching grant from the 1772 Foundation for the priority repairs, and will need to raise the matching $10,000. Christensen will send fundraising appeal letters to all society members, local businesses and Preston residents seeking donations. Fundraiser events are planned in the coming weeks.

The first visible signs of the major renovation effort will get underway Tuesday, when newly appointed state archaeologist Brian Jones arrives to conduct an archaeological dig at the corner where the grading work needs to be done. While there are no gravestones within several feet of that corner, Jones will try to determine whether any burials lie beneath the surface.

The historical society is seeking volunteers to assist with the dig, which will be done mostly by Jones and University of Connecticut archaeological students. The dig is expected to begin at about 10 a.m. Tuesday and continue for much of the week, Christensen said.

Spectators are welcome to stop by and watch the work. Parking will be available at the rear of the Senior Center across Long Society Road from the meetinghouse. Some parking will be available along the street.

Christensen said she will put out a donation jar next week, inviting spectators to contribute to the project to save the town’s early history.

The first planned fundraiser will be a community yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 at Preston Plains Middle School at the corner of routes 2 and 164. Anyone wishing to set up a table is asked to register by June 8. A 10-by-10-foot space is $25. Participants would keep their sales proceeds.

The meetinghouse has no electricity, heat or air conditioning, so events in the heat of the summer or dead of winter are not likely. But Christensen envisions the society meetinghouse, with its austere Puritan pews in neat rows in the main room and balcony above, hosting live music concerts, history lectures and school events.

A future phase of the restoration once structural issues are addressed would include creating a more inviting front entrance walkway along the grassy slope.

To make the building more appealing at the start of the project, the Preston Historical Society hired a painter to scrape and paint the front facade of the building. Society Treasurer Mark Christensen, Linda’s husband, erected a new block-printed sign to the left of the front entrance, which says: “The Long Society Meeting House, est. 1817. Restoration by The Preston Historical Society, Inc. Donations/Info: 860 887 5828.”

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UBox:

The 1817 Long Society Meetinghouse in Preston needs renovations totaling approximately $180,000. New owner, the Preston Historical Society, will apply for grants and seek donations for prioritized pieces of the project.

Send donations with checks made out to Preston Historical Society, with notation for Long Society Meetinghouse, to Society Treasurer Mark Christensen, 15 Amos Road, Preston, CT 06365. Donations are tax deductable.

Volunteers needed to help with archaeological dig May 26 through May 29 with state Archaeologist Brian Jones and UConn students. Call (860) 887-5828 to volunteer or for more information.

Fundraiser community yard sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 13, Preston Plains Middle School, corner routes 164 and 2. 10-by-10-foot space, $25. 20-by-10-foot space, $50. Participants keep proceeds. Register by June 8. Call Eileen Nagel (860) 886-8517, email Eileen.nagel.snet.net.