A gift from Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore will help fund much-needed repairs of the Capt. Penniman house in Eastham/NPS

Captain Edward Penniman would be proud. The whaling captain's home at Cape Cod National Seashore is getting some much needed upkeep thanks to a $100,000 donation from Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore.

That donation triggered another $85,000 from the National Park Service's "Centennial Challenge Fund" and was supplemented by $15,000 from Eastern National, the seashore's cooperating association.

"We are thrilled that the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore were willing to step forward to make a substantial donation in support of the historic Captain Penniman House," said Cape Cod Superintendent George Price. "The Friends support the seashore in many ways and we thank them for their continued support and efforts. We were particularly fortunate the donation was matched by the national Centennial Challenge Fund, which will enable the seashore to proceed with the painting to upgrade the Penniman House as part of our Centennial program."

Work to be done includes inspection and repair or replacement of architectural details, including trim, gutters and downspouts, columns, doors, cupola, porch, chimneys and storm windows; repointing of chimneys and repairs to flashing; preparation and painting of the house; and preparation and staining of the mansard roof and chimneys.

Since its construction in 1868, the Captain Edward Penniman House has been a cultural treasure in Eastham. It commemorates this region's rich maritime history through its association with Edward Penniman, who, at age eleven, began his career at sea as a cook on a schooner bound for the Grand Banks. Captain Penniman retired to his ornate French Second Empire Eastham home on Fort Hill following a highly successful and adventurous career as a whaling captain. The Penniman story is further enriched by the fact that his wife and children accompanied him on some of his voyages.

A special educational component of this project involves students from the carpentry program at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. They'll meet with National Park Service preservation specialists at the house while the project is underway to learn about preservation principles and methods. This program is part of an ongoing relationship seashore staff has with this school to help train their trades students and to convey NPS resource values and career opportunities.

"As president of the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore, I am pleased to say that the present Board of Directors voted unanimously in support of this project and approved the funding, as it is consistent with our mission," said Richard G. Ryder. "Thanks to the commitment of our 600 dues-paying members, we are able to be supportive of Cape Cod National Seashore. This is a major project for the seashore, and we are pleased to be part of it. None of us can do it alone."

Eastern National, a cooperating agency of the National Park Service, operates the bookstores at both visitor centers and at the Highland Lighthouse and Museum. Kevin Kissling, chief operating officer, said, "As part of our commitment to support and promote America's national parks, Eastern National is proud to be able to contribute to the improvements being made at the Penniman House at Cape Cod National Seashore. Since 1963, we have partnered with the seashore to provide quality educational experiences, products, and services, and we are thrilled to support this initiative as they prepare for the NPS Centennial celebration."