The Town of Gorham Historical Society has received a $10,000 grant from Lyons National Bank as volunteers continue work to turn the historic Hoffman House on Main Street into a new museum.
Christine Copper, branch manager for Lyons National Bank in Rushville, presented the grant to the society's board during its June Board of Directors meeting, according to a release from the organization.
The historical society purchased the Hoffman House in October 2025 after raising $160,000 in 16 months. The Queen Anne Victorian was built in 1900 by M. & E. Bains and is intended to replace the society's current museum space, a 24-by-32-foot room in the basement of the Gorham Free Library.
Volunteers have been renovating the first floor as Phase 1 of the project. Work has included stripping wallpaper, removing 1980s kitchen cupboards, repairing plaster walls, removing modern flooring, repairing missing or rotted floorboards and preparing walls for period-appropriate wallpaper.
Wood floors in two-thirds of the first floor have been refinished by Tim Burgess of Ralph Burgess & Sons. The society is also working to rebuild a bathroom so the first floor can become ADA compliant and replace a modern stainless steel sink with a more period-appropriate enamel sink.
The society said more accessibility work is needed before the full Hoffman House Museum can be ADA compliant. Future plans include a rear addition with an elevator shaft for a three-stop LULA elevator and an ADA bathroom.
The organization is also exploring whether to seek State and National Register of Historic Places designation for the Hoffman House, which could open the door to larger historic preservation grants. It is also applying for smaller grants and continuing local fundraising.
Two fundraisers are planned this summer. The society's annual antique and vintage yard sale will run July 16-19 at the Hoffman House, with donated items sold under tents on the grounds. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Donations for the sale are still being accepted, and volunteers are needed for setup, sale days and cleanup. People interested in donating or volunteering can call Beth Rasmussen at 585-506-6318.
The society will also sell tickets for an August cash giveaway. Tickets are $100 and include 10 chances to win, with four $500 prizes, three $1,000 prizes, two $2,500 prizes and one $5,000 prize.
Tickets are available at the Gorham Free Library circulation desk, by calling Rasmussen or by visiting the existing museum in the Gorham Free Library basement on Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. Each ticket includes admission to the Cash Giveaway Tasting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, when the prize drawing will be held at 8 p.m. Winners do not need to be present.
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