By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Under new management: The village of Canajoharie is the new owner of the former West Hill School, and members of the ad hoc committee formed to save it aren’t letting any grass grow under their feet.

A fall cleanup day was conducted at the Otsego and Cliff Streets site on Saturday, and a dozen or so local volunteers turned out to help get rid of junk wood around the building. They also worked on an abandoned van, with the ultimate goal of removing it from the property.

Finally a massive sign, donated by Premier Signs and Graphics in Clinton and displaying the group’s web address, www.HistoricWestHillSchool.com, was hung on an exterior wall of the historic structure.

Group President Hein Kraak on Saturday, said, “We’re going as high as possible.”

As of Saturday evening, the sign was high above the village on the northern facade of the building.

Mayor Francis Avery on Friday confirmed that the transfer of the building to the village of Canajoharie was recently completed. “We own it lock, stock and barrel,” he said.

Village officials are not eager to own it for long, however.

Avery said, “As quickly as we can, we will transfer it to [the Historic West Hill Committee] with restrictions or a clawback requirement that certain progress has to be made within a year,” or the village will once again take ownership.

He said the group will have to meet minimal requirements, such as patching the roof or replacing the windows, for example, in order to demonstrate that progress is being made.

Because the Historic West Hill group isn’t formally organized, however, the village is not able to directly transfer ownership to them.

Avery said, “This group wants to operate under Historic Fort Plain’s [not-for-profit designation] and/or merge” and change the name of the joint organization.

Historic West Hill School group member Tolga Morawski, the treasurer of Historic Fort Plain, said all are excited about the progress.

Although the West Hill School group’s website is under construction, their social media page, at https://www.facebook.com/HistoricWestHillSchool?ref=ts, is active and has recent updates.

Among recent posts are an appeal for volunteers. Needed is a group treasurer and members to serve on a fundraising committee. Interested parties are asked to contact organizers on Facebook and/or by email at HistoricWHS@gmail.com.

“This will be a time consuming job so we hope to get a dedicated group of volunteers who [are] willing to work together to help in one of the most crucial aspects of the greater project,” the site administrator noted.

Former Canajoharie resident Kenneth Prol, who formed the not-for-profit group Canajoharie 2000 with local residents Stanley Phillips and the late Jeffrey Chapple, was among those instrumental in saving the once-derelict structure at 66 Church St. in Canajoharie from the wrecking ball. The condemned building had a hole in the roof, and the trio bought it back from the county, making repairs and restoring it to habitable condition.

Since restored, the commercial property now houses a Liberty program and is an integral part of the Church Street block.

Prol posted words of encouragement for the organizers.

He wrote, “Every worthwhile project takes a vision for the future. Restoring the West Hill School is a project that will take time, energy, and patience with those who disagree. Don’t give up. Your numbers will increase, the money will come and you will one day look back with a sense of accomplishment and pride.”

He continued, “This was and will be a beautiful building and is important to the history of Canajoharie and surrounding communities. Don’t let anyone hold you back.”

Among those individuals working behind the scenes are local resident John Walsh.

Morawski noted the Canajoharie resident has mowed the school lawn and raised the flag whenever he’s been able to do so.

“He’s been tireless in his efforts,” Morawski said.