Ukrainian Institute of America awarded federal grant for preservation

NEW YORK - The National Park Service announced on Monday, November 10, that the Ukrainian Institute of America has been awarded a matching grant of $270,000 for preservation work of the institute's landmark home known as the Fletcher Sinclair Mansion - the crown jewel of the Ukrainian American community.

This award comes as the Ukrainian Institute continues work on the 19th century mansion in the French Gothic style located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 79th Street on New York's Upper East Side. Located on New York's fabled Museum Mile, where hundreds of thousands of people pass by the institute every year. Most recently, when the institute was included in a walking tour of New York's historical buildings called "Open House New York," 1,400 people visited the institute.

During the past year, the Institute has expended $129,500 on improving the physical appearance and conditions of the mansion, including the surrounding ironwork, woodwork, carvings and marble floor on the first floor. For the first time since it was built, a century of grime was recently cleaned from the mansion's façade.

The matching grant award will allow the Institute to embark on a new phase of restoration, including electrical, plumbing and structural work to the 106-year-old building. Beyer, Blinder, Belle, a leading architectural firm in New York City, has studied and identified the necessary work required to preserve the building's grandeur and functionality.

"Many visitors, who've wandered in off the street, compliment the Ukrainian community for its devotion to maintaining a true architectural treasure of New York," said Walter Nazarewicz, the institute's president. "Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends, the institute has never looked so good."

"This is the first time we've received an outside grant. To date we relied solely on the funds raised through our members and friends. We are extremely pleased that our grant application was accepted," Mr. Nazarewicz added, "and now the fund-raising efforts will focus on finishing what we started."

The Ukrainian Institute of America, New York's "Window on Ukraine," is open to the public and hosts a variety of events, including art exhibits, classical and modern music programs, seasonal celebrations and special events for children.

Since its construction by the renowned architect C.P.H. Gilbert for financier Isaac D. Fletcher in 1897, the mansion has also been called home by oil tycoon Harry F. Sinclair (1917-1930) and the last descendants of Gov. Peter Stuyvesant, Augustus Van Horner Stuyvesant Jr. and his sister Anne (1930-1953).

In 1955, the mansion was purchased by the Ukrainian Institute of America with the charitable generosity and support of the Institute's founder, William Dzus. In June of 1962 the mortgage was paid off and subsequently the Ukrainian Institute of America attained landmark status.

The National Park Service grant was awarded within the framework of the Department of Interior's Federal Save America's Treasure initiative to preserve significant historic American properties and collections.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 23, 2003, No. 47, Vol. LXXI

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