Norwich's Northeast Classic Car Museum to Expand

The Northeast Classic Car Museum announced its plans to grow by nearly 50% by Spring 2009. Expansion was made possible when, approximately two years ago, the Museum acquired a facility of nearly 30,000 square feet that adjoins the existing Museum. According to Sewain Conklin, President of the Board of Trustees, "The Museum has put a new roof on the facility and has made some improvements to common areas since acquiring the property." Over the past year, Museum Trustees evaluated Museum expansion and have recently concluded that expansion was feasible and would further elevate NECCM as a significant automotive museum and tourist attraction.

This is the second major expansion in the Museum's 11 years of existence. The Museum is currently conducting a Capital and Endowment Campaign effort to fund the expansion/renovation and provide for the Museum's future. More than half of the $1.1 million has been committed by Mr. George Staley and by a donation from NBT Bank. Martin A. Dietrich, CEO of NBT Bank, stated that “The Northeast Classic Car Museum is one of the area's great success stories and NBT is pleased to be an early contributor as the Museum takes another step forward in its phenomenal growth.”

Currently, renovations are underway at the facility. The building being renovated is at least 70 years old. It once housed Bennett-Ireland, a manufacturer of fire place equipment. The Museum plans to take advantage of the building's clerestory windows and elevated center space to complement exhibits. No decisions have been made about exhibits that will occupy the space but the Exhibit Committee will begin to evaluate possibilities in the near future.

At the conclusion of the project, the building will be completely renovated to include new exterior wall covering to be consistent with the rest of the Museum's buildings, new windows, insulation, electrical, and HVAC.

Currently the Museum has on exhibit approximately 120 automobiles and is open 9a.m.-5p.m. daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.


Contact Person: Doreen Bates, Executive Director (607)334-2886