NORWAY — Norway Savings Bank announces its support of Avesta Housing with a $20,000 donation to renovate the former Mildred M. Fox School in downtown Paris. The former elementary school will be transformed into affordable senior housing featuring 12 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Built in 1883 and expanded in 1940, the Fox School operated until 2008 as a public school and until 2015 as a private charter school. Avesta bought the building in 2017 and began construction earlier this year after securing a range of investments — including $20,000 from Norway Savings Bank.

Avesta plans to start taking applications for the apartments later this year with occupancy slated for early 2019.

Former Fox School students and teachers (not necessarily in order) Lynette Gatchell Seames, Donna Kennison, Carolyn Blais, Judy O’Connor, Carol Huotari, Patricia Smart, Mary Lou Burns, Becky Burke, Margaret Perham, Bonnie Ripley, Jill Gay, Lynn Brown, Rebecca Hatfield, and Andrea Burns join Norway Savings Bank employees Janice de Lima, Peter Godsoe and Pat Weigel and Avesta Housing employees Todd Rothstein, Patrick Hess, Dana Totman and Rebecca Hatfield in front of the former Fox School in Paris. Mrs. Burns presented a portrait of George Washington, which hung for years in the Fox School, for the Avesta employees to display in the new residential building.