Warren’s Massasoit Historical Association (located in the historic Maxwell House at 59 Church St.) recently received a grant totaling $23,898 from the Champlin Foundation, which will go towards the installation of a new HVAC system to improve the building’s climate control.

“The second floor doesn’t really have climate control,” said Debra Jobin, President of the Massasoit Historical Association. “We get a lot of donations of documents and historical data that needs to be taken care of properly. When you have high humidity and conditions that vary greatly, it affects documents, photos, et cetera.”

Jobin said that the building utilizes forced air for its heating, relying on a system in the basement and the attic. The attic system, Jobin said, is at least 30 years old by her estimate and doesn’t have functioning air conditioning. Improvements funded by the grant will provide air conditioning and also fix leaks in the system to further optimize heating of the building.

The grant comes at an opportune time, as the Massasoit Historical Association is in the midst of a collaborative effort with other historical groups in town to digitize their extensive collection of historic records.

Jobin said that the HVAC improvements are expected to begin this summer, but was understandably concerned about the increasing cost of labor and materials as inflation and supply chain issues from Covid have disrupted the market.

“Four months, five months ago I could pay under $200 for red cedar shingles,” Jobin, who is also a realtor, said. “I just paid $518.”

The improvements to the interior of the Maxwell House, which the association describes as “a living museum” — it was built between 1752 and 1756, and is believed to be the oldest brick dwelling in Warren — coincide with exterior improvements in the form of historic window replacements, which have already been installed on the front of the building.

“We’re very grateful for Champlin,” Jobin said. “They have been instrumental in helping us maintain this as a working museum.”

To learn more about the Massasoit Historical Association, visit their new website at MassasoitHistorical.org.