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Saving New York's Historic Barns
Related Story: Interview with Steve Engelhart, an architectural heritage expert, about barns and their importance to our landscape and culture. Listen (Real 8:54). For more information about historic barn restoration in New York: The New York State Barn Coalition was formed in 1997 to increase public awareness of historic barns in the state and to promote the appreciation, preservation, rehabilitation , and reuse of older and historic barns. The Coalition sponsors meetings and conferences and shares information about barn preservation. Contact Tania Werbizky, Preservation League of New York State, (518) 462-5658 or (607) 272-6510; info@preservenys.org And
check out the New
York State Barn Coalition website. |
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Some
of New York’s oldest barns are getting facelifts this
summer. The first round of grants under the $2 million State
Barns Restoration and Preservation Program were handed out
in June. They’ll fund more than a hundred barn projects
in 48 counties—from 18th century horse barns to early
20th century Gothic dairy barns. Todd Moe visited a Canton
family’s 1820 English threshing barn slated for restoration.
Hand-hewn
timbers inside the Clark barn are in remarkably good shape after
nearly 180 years.
The
interior support beams reveal an era of remarkable craftsmanship
and ingenuity.
The
Clarks will use state grant money to repair their early 19th
century barn. Exterior hickory planks will be replaced, a wood
shingle roof will replace the tin and a milking parlor addition
from the early 20th century will be removed.