FSB sponsors room at Western Maine Play Museum

WILTON – The Franklin Savings Bank Community Development Foundation has donated $25,000 to sponsor a special room at the Western Maine Play Museum being planned in Wilton.

The Franklin Savings Bank named room will be the Dark Room, which is expected to feature exhibits ranging from light tables with translucent building toys and colored films, to black lights, sodium vapor bulbs and solar system projectors.

“The components in the room are designed to be interactive and fun for youngsters as they explore and learn about their world. There’s a lot to see when the lights are low,” said Nikki Knowles, a para planner at Western Mountain Financial Services who is on the Western Maine Play Museum Board of Directors and serves as its treasurer. Knowles presented the sponsorship request to Franklin Savings Bank’s Board of Directors.

“We are truly grateful for the support we’ve received from Franklin Savings Bank. They have believed in us from the start with a matching donation in late 2013, which paid for most of our attorney fees and incorporation costs, and now they have gone even further and have purchased the Dark Room,” said Knowles.

“Every donation received brings us one step closer to opening our doors so that the children in our community and beyond will have a safe, comfortable place to play and learn. Thank you for giving back to the children,” said Knowles.

“We are looking forward to seeing this project come to fruition,” said Peter Judkins, president and CEO at Franklin Savings Bank. “It will be a wonderful educational and cultural addition to our community.”

The Dark Room is one of five major theme rooms that are being sponsored by local businesses and families. Other rooms include the Train Room and the Kitchen Laboratory.

The Franklin Savings Bank donation brings the total amount raised to more than $190,000. Once the Western Maine Play Museum raises $350,000, it will qualify for a matching grant and be able to break ground. The goal is to break ground this fall and open summer 2016, according to Knowles.

The 6,000-square-foot museum will be located at 561 Main Street in Wilton in a house donated for the purpose. It has completed its engineering work and is involved in the pre-planning stage with the Planning Board.

The Franklin Savings Bank Community Development Foundation has contributed about $1.82 million to local economic and charitable causes since its founding in 2001. Franklin Savings Bank is a community bank serving western and central Maine since 1868.