Preston – Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown talked of the 400-year neighborly relationship between the town of Preston and the Mohegan Tribe across the Thames River, ties that are expected to be strengthening with ongoing negotiations to redevelop the former Norwich Hospital.

But Brown was in town Monday for what he called “a balancing” between the Preston Riverwalk development – expected to total several hundred million dollars – and support of smaller community projects. Brown delivered a check for $10,000 to the Preston Historical Society to help with the restoration of the 1819 Long Society Meetinghouse on Long Society Road.

The unique broadside building, matched in size and design to the Colonial-era building it replaced, needed an estimated $180,000 renovation at the start of the project. Preston Historical Society President Linda Christensen said with the tribe's donation, the group needs about another $100,000.

Brown, Tribal Council members Bill Quidgeon and Kathy Regan-Pyne and tribal officials Chuck Bunnell, chief of staff, and external and governmental affairs and tribal communications manager Cathy Soper toured the building Monday and ventured in the early morning snow to walk the grounds and Colonial-era cemetery that surrounds the property on three sides.

Brown said tribal leaders are keenly aware of the importance of preserving local history. The tribe's ability to prove its longstanding history in southeastern Connecticut gave it the foundation needed to gain federal recognition as a tribe, a designation that allowed for the development of the Mohegan Sun casino, hotel and related businesses on the Mohegan reservation.

Brown joked to Christensen that he left his donation in the large jar at the building's entrance. But then handed her the check.

“This is a historical gem,” Christensen said after thanking tribal officials. “The meetinghouse represents the beginning of colonial life in Preston.”

The unheated building is used during good weather months for lectures and special events. Christensen hopes it can become a venue for small concerts and other programs.

Christensen said the historical society will use the $10,000 as a matching share to apply for a grant from the 1772 Foundation, which supports historic building restoration projects, and from other sources to either restore or replace the building's large square-paned windows. The window project is expected to cost about $50,000, Christensen said.

The historical society has received grants from the Preston Community Fund and from the town. Town crews mow the grass, clear brush and do small maintenance work on the property, First Selectman Robert Congdon said. The town budget allocates about $2,000 per year for the building. The town also has provided one-time small matching grants when they have been requested.

The restoration project started in the summer of 2015, with an archaeological dig around the building's foundation in preparation for work to shore up the foundation and improve drainage. Christensen showed tribal leaders photos of the 1784 silver Spanish coin and 1904 political campaign button found in the excavation. Volunteer diggers under the direction of state Archaeologist Brian Jones also found two Paleoindian spear points estimated to be about 4,500 years old.

Preston Historical Society member Michael Clancy approached tribal member John Harris, who lives in Preston, about possible tribal support for the Long Society Meetinghouse. Harris brought the request to the tribal council.

“This is terrific,” Clancy said Monday. “I'm hoping in the future we can have a real partnership with the tribe for the building. They've always been good neighbors.”

c.bessette@theday.com