As you may or may not know, most of the MMA’s buildings date from the very early twentieth century and down into the late eighteenth century – we span 1790 to 1930 if you don’t count Loines Observatory (1968) or Drake Cottage (2000).  It is a challenge to keep them in tip-top shape and to make sure they can properly support our 21 ^st century programming – but we do it!  We do it with donations, some monies from programming, and of course lots of grants from state, federal, local, and private foundations and entities.  It keeps us busy!  But it is all worth it and we are most grateful to everyone for their support.

 Recently, we have made a few more much needed updates to our “Astronomer’s Cottage” – a circa 1830 house that the MMA acquired in about 1922.  It is located immediately adjacent to the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (1908).  We had recently completed some grant funded work to this site and had a few more items to work on.  One of these was electrical work – updating some lighting and wiring and adding some lighting to the cellar which was lit by well, not much – let’s say, one light bulb.  It has always been a basic storage place for the MMA so it didn’t need a lot of light.  Until, the electrician entered, said “Yes, I can provide some more lighting down here,” and then oh my mercies of lighting marvels, I went down to check, flipped on the switch and TADAH! the cellar went from a dungeon to a very pleasant, well-lit space where I can see EVERY nook and cranny, every corner, and now I can work on some items that I need to go through down there!  (With apologies to my English teacher Mother – run-on was purposeful to denote my excitement.) What a difference lighting makes!  I don’t have to wear a headlamp to work.  I can see everything !  It is actually inviting.  What a difference a little (read a lot) of light makes!

JNLF