Dec. 14 -- Founders Place homeowner Jennifer Gammill soon will be able to replace gutters and peeling black paint on her century-old house.
Gigi Webb, her sister who lives across 16th Street, can replace and restore 20 windows on her house.
Webb and Gammill are getting help with their restoration through federal subgrants offered through Neighbors Building Neighborhoods.
The organization is using a Paul Bruhn Historic Vitalization Program Grant through the National Park Service to help fund exterior work on 15 historic properties.
Properties include the Severs Block building, part of the Pre-Statehood Commercial District. The others are homes in historic districts of Kendall Place and Founders Place.
Muskogee Historic Revitalization Subgrant program, administered by Neighbors Building Neighborhoods, seeks to restore and improve historic homes and buildings in historic districts, said program coordinator Rachel Atherton.
"We believe a big part of the subgrant program is the economic revitalization aspect," Atherton said. "By investing in these historic properties, we are investing in the community and the community is investing in itself."
More than $700,000 in subgrant funding has been allocated for the approved projects, according to a media release.
Atherton said the renovations must comply with the Secretary of the Interior standards for historic preservation.
Webb said her $19,350 sub grant will help make her home, built around 1924, more livable and more attractive. Paint is peeling from around the windows. She also wants to install storm windows.
"Through the grant, our contractor will come in and do them, and we're not doing them one window at a time, which would take me forever," Webb said. "With the grant, I can actually afford everything I want to do and do it properly. That's what's important to me, making sure that we're good stewards."
Webb said Neighbors Building Neighborhoods gave her a list of acceptable contractors, who must be insured and bonded. Gammill checked to make sure they can do historic work, she said.
Webb said she also is getting work done on a separate garage, where an old chimney is pulling from the building. She said she hopes to start work next spring.
Gammill said her $52,163 grant will make a big difference.
"It's going to be able to help me get more done," she said. "I had planned to get the house repainted and repaired this spring."
Her house, which dates to 1904, has decades of exterior paint that must be removed. Eaves and gutters must be repaired or replaced, cracked front porch stairs must be replaced, cracked windows must be repaired, she said. Work also must be done on the separate garage.
Gammil said she expects work to begin in February or March -- "depending on the National Parks Service, when they do all the financing."
Athereton said Neighbors Building Neighborhoods visited each property.
"I see them needing some attention, which they are certainly getting now," she said. "I knew even before I even moved to Muskogee, people talked about how nice the historic homes were here. This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the historic districts. These properties are important on a national level."
Atherton said some homes, such as the 114-year-old house at 509 N. 12th St., have connections with the Jefferson Highway.
"Some of the houses on the list are even on official postcards for the city, she said. "It's been inspiring to see people become so invested in the local history of the area."