State Grant Helps Caramoor Replace Ancient Cast Iron Plumbing

KATONAH, NY — Part of the charm of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is the lovingly preserved historic buildings on the campus, but that charm would likely fade quickly if you were the one who had to deal with the nearly century-old plumbing.

New York State Senator Pete Harckham has announced that help is on the way. He was able to secure a $50,000 Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) grant for the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts to replace the outdated plumbing system in its Administration Building.

"A well-maintained plumbing system not only prevents inconveniences like leaks and clogs, it also safeguards against costly water damage and promotes the health and safety of occupants," Harckham said. "I'm glad I could do my part to keep a great cultural organization like Caramoor operating smoothly."

In recent years, the Administration Building at Caramoor has experienced increasing numbers of leaks and clogs in pipes that caused water damage, and bathrooms were occasionally closed for maintenance. This was largely attributed to the building’s cast-iron plumbing system, most of it installed during construction in 1931.

"Thank you, Senator Harckham, for your proactive efforts in securing funds for us to make much-needed repairs," Caramoor CEO Ed Lewis said. "The historic building had a plumbing system that had reached the end of its lifespan. These improvements will remove the risk of plumbing issues and water damage and allow us to focus on providing quality and enriching arts programming to the public."

The awarded CREST grant funding is among the State Senate grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development.