LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The organization leading the restoration of the historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse in Finley has received a grant from a nationwide program dedicated to the preservation of America’s unique history.

Americana Corner, an online resource focused on the founding of our nation, announced the 2023 awardees of its Preserving America Grant Program.

Among them was the Lucerne Area Revitalization Association, or LARA, which will receive $5,000 for its schoolhouse restoration project.

“We are so excited and grateful to Americana Corner and its founder, Tom Hand,” said Elizabeth Larson, co-founder of LARA and publisher and editor of Lake County News. “This award moves us closer to starting on a critical phase of the schoolhouse’s restoration — the complete removal of decades of lead paint on the building’s interior and exterior.”

LARA is among 119 organizations in 35 states that will receive grant awards totaling $835,500 from the Americana Corner Fund at DonorsTrust.

The Americana Corner program was established to help other organizations tell the incredible story of America from its founding era through its first century as a nation.

These grants will help fund a diverse range of projects, including restoring historical objects, creating educational displays, and making improvements to historic sites that will enhance the visitor experience.

Among the grant recipients are numerous projects focused on Civil War and Revolutionary War history and artifacts, as well as improvements to the homes of U.S. presidents James K. Polk, James Monroe and Ulysses S. Grant, and at Valley Forge.

Due to overwhelming interest and the historic significance of the projects that sought funding, Americana Corner will award $835,500 in total grant funding for 2023, nearly double last year’s commitment of $446,000.

“I am thrilled to be able to help others across America tell our country’s wonderful story,” said Tom Hand, founder of Americana Corner.

The Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse, also known as the Hells Bend Schoolhouse, was built in 1871 and moved to its current location in 1882. There, it remained in operation as a school until July 1920.

In 2021, the Kelseyville Unified School District granted LARA the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse following a public process that involved a request for proposals. LARA and the school district entered into a 50-year lease for the property where the schoolhouse sits in Finley.

LARA launched a fundraising campaign on Giving Tuesday in November in order to begin the renovations this year, with initial work to focus on removing the lead paint.

Larson thanked the many community members who donated to the effort, and offered special mention to Lake County Fair Chief Executive Officer Sheli Wright who pointed her toward the Americana Corner grant in late 2022.

LARA is pursuing the final piece of funding to begin the lead removal project. The total project is expected to cost about $20,000, and so far they’ve raised about $12,000 of that amount.

Tax-deductible donations for the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse project can be made through LARA’s online donation platform or mailed to LARA, P.O. Box 1792, Lucerne, CA 95458-1792.

LARA’s project is one of three in California approved in this year’s round of funding. The other two projects are the Gold Discovery Park Association’s plans to replace and create interpretive signage throughout Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma and the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation in Vallejo’s plan to upgrade the audio visual system in St. Peter's Chapel, the oldest naval chapel in the nation.

The full list of 2023 Americana Corner grant awardees include the following:

• 1st Virginia Regiment of Continental Line to repair a three-pound brass "Grasshopper" cannon.
• Acadian Heritage and Culture Foundation for an exhibit on the role of Acadians and Spanish in the American Revolution.
• Adams County Historical Society for a Civil War photo exhibit.
• Alabama Historic Ironworks Foundation to restore the historic Fowler House.
• American Civil War Museum to help restore the White House of the Confederacy.
• Andrew Jackson Foundation for ongoing educational and preservation projects.
• Avoca Museum and Historical Society to restore two outbuildings on the property, Smokehouse and Milkhouse.
• Battle of Rhode Island Association to restore visitor trails at the Butts Hill Fort.
• Bedford Heritage Trust to complete the "fort-era" exhibit on Fort Bedford.
• Bergen County Historical Society to build a display case for a restored musket
• Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates to provide living history programs to the public.
• Camp Blount Historical Site Association to recreate historic Joseph Greer House.
• Citizenship Trust American Village to help refurbish the Visitor Center.
• Clarke County Historical Museum to restore the Alston-Cobb House.
• Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to help restore the Peyton-Randolph Stable.
• Connecticut Landmarks to improve exhibits and displays at the Nathan Hale Homestead.
• Constituting America to promote a 90-day study on America's First Principles.
• Cortland County Historical Society to preserve four 1820s maps produced by young women.
• Delaware Company of NY for a permanent museum display on civil conflict in the Upper Delaware Valley.
• Discovery Expedition of St. Charles to add costumed historical interpreters for visitors.
• Fort Adams Trust for the restoration of the Southeast Demi-Bastion Terreplein and adjacent inboard parade grounds.
• Fort LeBoeuf Historical Society to expand existing historic garden; develop living history curriculum; and build a soldier's hut.
• Fort Ligonier to design and print 50,000 site maps for visitors.
• Fort Loudoun Historical Society to purchase a gun carriage for British one-pounder cannon.
• Fort Randolph Committee for media handouts such as rack cards; hands-on materials for visitors; and a stipend for costumed interpreters.
• Fraunces Tavern Museum to conserve Martha Washington slipper shoe.
• Friends of Fort Frederick State Park for new period costumes for living history interpreters.
• Friends of Kaw Point Park to develop informational signage on the Corps of Discovery at Kaw Point; restore native gardens; and guided tours.
• Friends of Maxwell Hall to create educational signage at Maxwell Hall on the Patuxent River.
• Friends of Minute Man National Park for a battlefield restoration project at Elm Brook Hill associated with the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
• Friends of the Longfellow House‚ÄìWashington's Headquarters to restore window seat cushions in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's study.
• Friends of the Monterey Pass Battlefield to interpret the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road at Monterey Pass Battlefield.
• Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage to design, construct and install two interpretive panels on the Eastern Overlook at Grant Cottage.
• Friends of Washington Crossing Park to create six "76 Seconds of History" videos on Washington Crossing.
• Furnace Town Foundation to help restore the circa 1830 Nassawango Iron Furnace.
• Georgia Salzburger Society to replace authentic shingles on the roof of the Fail House at Ebenezer historic site.
• Gettysburg Foundation to help fund the Children of Gettysburg 1863 educational program.
• Gold Discovery Park Association to replace and create interpretive signage throughout Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.
• Gordon-Wascott Historical Society to create a historical park at site of the 1858 Antoine Gordon trading post in northern Wisconsin.
• Grout Museum to help complete repairs to the Rensselaer-Russell House.
• Hart Square Foundation to restore the circa 1850 Hoyle Dogtrot cabin at Hart Square Village.
• Heritage Foundation of Williamson County to digitally map and record all cemeteries in Williamson County focusing on American Revolution and Civil War veterans cemeteries.
• Heritage Frederick to design and develop exhibits on 19th-century Frederick, Maryland.
• Highlanders Chapter to build a monument to American Revolution soldiers.
• Hillsdale County Historical Society to restore interior of the Will Carleton poorhouse.
• Historic Albany Foundation to restore original roof of oldest house in Albany, Ostrande-Radliff House, circa 1728.
• Historic Camden Foundation to build an 18th-century limber and artillery carriage for "La Populaire" cannon surrendered at YorkTown.
• Historic Fallsington to replace cedar roof on historic Burges-Lippincott House.
• Historic Harmony to replace roof on Harmony Museum circa 1825 log cabin.
• Historic Huguenot Street to develop videos of the Historic Huguenot Street historic site.
• Historic Rock Ford for funding an exhibit in the Snyder Gallery called “The Market Town and the Metropolis.”
• Historic Southwest Ohio - Heritage Village Museum & Educational Center to create a working tinsmith and blacksmith shop.
• Historic Trappe to restore porch of Frederick Muhlenberg home.
• Historic Village at Allaire to restore the 1840s-era Star and Eagle flag.
• Hull House Foundation to build a working early 19th-century outdoor fireplace, hearth, and bake oven to demonstrate period cooking and baking techniques.
• James K Polk Home & Museum to update the James K. Polk House Museum.
• James Monroe Memorial Foundation to restore landscaping at the James Monroe Presidential Birthplace site.
• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation to support a photography initiative to digitized the museum's historic objects.
• Lancaster NY Historical Society to help restore a circa 1868 one room school house.
• Lawrence County Civic Center and Regional History Museum to restore circa.1805 canoe and circa 1850 wagon wheels for display in the Lawrence County Regional History Museum
• Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Trail Foundation for the reproduction of historic artifacts such as trade goods, furs, and period furniture at Fort Osage
• Lucerne Area Revitalization Association to restore historic circa 1871 Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse.
• Main Street Perryville to restore the home of Civil War doctor, Dr. J.J. Polk.
• Maine's First Ship to fund necessary equipment so the historic ship Virginia, Maine's first ship, can sail.
• Mare Island Historic Park Foundation to upgrade a/v system in St. Peter's Chapel, the oldest naval chapel in the nation.
• Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden to restore the Yellow Room in the Moffatt-Ladd House to its 1763 condition.
• Monmouth County Historical Association for the restoration of the circa 1752 Covenhoven House.
• Mount Vernon Ladies Association to create online educational resources to be used in classrooms.
• Museum of the American Revolution to preserve a collection of 18th and 19th century documents and letters.
• Muskingum County History for the repair and maintenance of the Stone Academy Museum.
• Musee de Venoge to create a visitor center video on how early settlers to the area impacted the settlement of Indiana and the western expansion of the United States.
• National Road Heritage Foundation to create the “Engineering, Paving, and Maintenance” exhibit at new National Road Museum.
• Neenah Historical Society to create an exhibit to celebrate the 150th anniversary of founding of "Twin Cities" Neenah and Menasha.
• Nolensville Historical Society to restore circa 1870 Morton-Brittain house.
• Northern Central Railway to fund an 1860s steam engine replica restoration project.
• Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village to restore historically significant Cyrus Eaton House in the Old Stone House Museum and Historic Village.
• Pejepscot History Center for the restoration and preservation of 14 regimental battle flags from the Grand Army of the Republic.
• Pendleton HIstoric Foundation to restore circa 1837 Historic Jenkins Home in Pendleton, South Carolina.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums to upgrade and repair period clothing for living history interpreters.
• Preservation Virginia to create signage for Patrick Henry’s home at Scotchtown.
• Princeton Battlefield Society to design, manufacture and install new multi-panel sign on the Battle of Princeton at Princeton Battlefield State Park.
• Randolph County Heritage Museum/Five Rivers Historic Preservation for an exhibit on the founders of Randolph County.
• Revolutionary Spaces to create an exhibit commemorating the Boston Tea Party.
• Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation for updating the “Voices of Duty and Devotion” display.
• Shepherd University Foundation and the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War to create the “Crossroads: Shepherdstown in the American Civil War” exhibit.
• Shippensburg History Center to purchase period clothing for living history program and create an exhibit showcasing Shippensburg’s role in American history.
• Shirley Plantation Foundation to fund additional living history interpreters.
• Smoky Hills Trail Association to purchase limestone Butterfield Overland Despatch markers for the Smoky Hill Trail.
• South Dakota Historical Society Foundation for the videography and still photography of 25 key archival and museum artifacts.
• St. John's Church Foundation to fund reenactments at Historic St. John's Church, site of Patrick Henry's “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.
• Stratford Hall to preserve extraordinary documents in Stratford Hall’s collection, including the original Terms of Surrender signed by Generals Lee and Grant.
• The Belle W. Baruch Foundation to restore two Currier & Ives prints.
• The Boyertown Area Historical Society to restore cupola of historic Bahr's mill.
• The Cairo Historical Preservation Project to restore 1869 Magnolia Manor.
• The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society to restore 1800s blacksmith bellows.
• The Charles Hall Museum for an exhibit on the history of the Tellico Iron Works.
• The Conococheague Institute for educational programs on the frontier.
• The Fort Ticonderoga Association to update interpretive signage at Fort Ticonderoga.
• The Friends of Perryville Battlefield to develop wayside informational signs on the Battle of Perryville.
• The Lewes Historical Society to create signage for 14 historic buildings curated by the Lewes Historical Society.
• The Library of Virginia for the conservation of documents from the Virginia Convention of 1776.
• The National Civil War Museum to upgrade lighting in the museum to enhance the visitor experience.
• The Pursuit of History to fund a series of videos that put important historical sites in context and show the connections between various events and sites.
• Thomasville History Center to restore a painting of Archibald Thompson MacIntyre, Thomas County resident and member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Tioga Point Museum for the digitization and display of historic rare books, documents, and maps related to the early history of northern Pennsylvania.
• Tipton-Haynes Historical Association to purchase and install privacy fence to protect historic viewshed from nearby development.
• Travelers' Rest Connection to create an exhibit on the Corps of Discovery (Lewis and Clark expedition).
• United Daughters of the Confederacy — Kentucky to enhance access to a War Memorial to the Immortal 600 at the Meade County Historical Museum.
• United Daughters of the Confederacy — Virginia to restore a historic library and books damaged by fire.
• Valley Forge Park Alliance to restore historic Maurice Stevens House at Valley Forge.
• Virginia Commemorations to fund collaboration efforts to enhance the visitor experience at Virginia historic sites in the runup to our nation's 250th birthday.
• Virginia Museum of History & Culture to support the creation of Civil War and Reconstruction era classroom materials.
• Washington Association of New Jersey to furnish new window treatments at the Ford mansion where General Washington spent the winter of 1779-80.
• Washington Memorial Heritage for signage for the Washington Memorial Chapel and its 40-acre site.
• Washington’s Trail – 1753 for signage for the trail George Washington took on his 1753 military diplomatic mission to Fort LeBoeuf.
• West Jersey Artillery to build artillery limber for a bronze three-pounder cannon.
• West Point Association of Graduates to produce an interactive digital map related to the Battle of New York in 1776.
• Wisconsin Historical Foundation to preserve a 20-star Loyalty flag from the Civil War.
• Ximenez-Fatio House Museum for the restoration of authentic wooden-framed, old glass-paned windows on the Ximenex-Fatio House.

Americana Corner was founded by Tom Hand in 2020 as an online resource to help others rediscover America’s incredible founding and first century of expansion.

From the American Revolution to the settlement of the American West, from the Declaration of Independence to the Emancipation Proclamation, and from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, Americana Corner contains positive stories of the great events, founding documents, and inspirational leaders who helped create and shape our country.

Perhaps most importantly, Hand discusses why all those events and people from so long ago still matter to us today.

For more information, visit www.americanacorner.com/grant-recipients.