On Wednesday, October 19th at 11 a.m., the National Women’s Hall of Fame will break ground for the next stage of work at its home at the 1844 Seneca Knitting Mill, 1 Canal Street, Seneca Falls.
This stage of renovation will expand usable space, which is currently limited to the first floor of the four-story building. The scope of work will include rehabilitating the existing spiral staircase, adding a main staircase, and building a new elevator shaft with a glass connector. Substantial work will also take place on the second floor, which will become space dedicated to telling the stories of the Hall’s 302 Inductees. The historic and iconic smokestack adjacent to the building will also be preserved and restored.
“The National Women’s Hall of Fame takes seriously our role in preserving the legacies and contributions of our Inductees, and their stories serve as inspiration for all who visit,” said Jennifer Gabriel, executive director of the Hall. “This next stage of work at the Seneca Knitting Mill is critical to our ability to continue building a world-class museum that celebrates great American women and inspire pilgrimage for visitors across the nation and around the world.”
Fittingly, the project team is being led by a woman – LeChase Construction Services LLC’s Project Executive Kailly Mintel. Women are also serving in key roles like project engineer, 3D imaging expert, and safety manager.
“This is a beautiful building with such a vibrant history,” Mintel said. “We can’t wait to showcase its unique details and provide The Hall an expanded space to honor so many great American women.”
Funding for this phase of work includes private philanthropy from generous individuals and supporters, as well as significant grants from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation – Environmental Protection Fund, NYS Council on the Arts, and the Rochester Area Community Foundation. The project is also significantly supported by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative, headed by NYS Department of State and administered by NYS Homes & Community Renewal.
The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023. Future phases will add more gallery space and a public event space on the third and fourth floors, plus a new bell tower to house the mill’s original bell.
On the banks of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, the historic 1844 Seneca Knitting Mill produced woolen textiles until closing in 1999. The Hall purchased the building in 2007, and after more than 10 years of extensive renovations, opened the first floor to the public in August 2020.
The first floor of the National Women’s Hall of Fame will remain open to the public during construction. Any required closures will be temporary and will be announced on the Hall’s website at womenofthehall.org and via its social media channels (@womenofthehall).
Naming and other recognition opportunities are available for donors and supporters who wish to get involved. Please contact the Hall at [email protected] to learn more.
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