Hoxie Center Could Be Ready for Summer Season

COURTESY OF THE HOXIE CENTER AT SAGAMORE BEACH

SAGAMORE BEACH – A new attraction in Sagamore Beach could be ready for the summer season.

Renovations for the Hoxie Center at Sagamore Beach for Art, Science, Education and Culture are a year ahead of schedule, according to Scott Fitzmaurice, the center’s vice president.

“For the town of Bourne this is really a large property,” Fitzmaurice said. “We’re 24,000 square feet which is going to open up so many more possibilities including national exhibits and other local events that are a lot larger than possible before.”

Fitzmaurice said work is swiftly being done to make the necessary safety and ADA access improvements to the former Ella F. Hoxie School.

“Having it right as we get into the warm season is really exciting for Bourne and for the whole region because it is a regional center,” Fitzmaurice said.

The center’s mission is to foster awareness, participation, appreciation and celebration of art, science and culture for all community residents and visitors.

Renovating the facility was a grassroots effort to save and historically preserve the Ella F. Hoxie School building.

The town of Bourne sold the former school to organizers for $1 and the purchase and sales agreement was predicated on a list of contingencies including a historic restoration and a reverter clause.

Residents in Bourne approved $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the group.

Fitzmaurice said almost $750,000 has been raised in total towards the $2.7 million budget.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter