BUCKLAND — The Buckland Historical Society has launched a campaign to help preserve a 224-year-old barn on the Wilder Homestead.
The “Save the Barn” campaign aims to restore an English-style barn through public donations. The goal of the campaign is to raise $500,000 — of which $324,000 has already been raised through a quiet phase of the campaign, which includes $75,000 from an anonymous donor and a $75,000 earmark from Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield.
“It is a magnificent property,” said Campaign Chair Susan Samoriski. “We needed to do this capital campaign to raise money to save and restore it to its original glory.”
Built in 1779 on the 43-acre property at 129 Ashfield Road, Samoriski said it is a “unique, rare English barn” that is notable for its structural integrity. She said it has slightly deteriorated over the years due to “normal wear and tear,” and that it needs some work to ensure it will continue to stand the test of time.
“The barn has unusual strength and the timbers are hand-hewn, probably from right off the property,” Samoriski said. “(The money) will be used to shore up and partially replace the foundation, it will be used to replace the boards. We’re hoping it will be possible to cut the timber on our own land and be able to have a sawmill. … We want to try and do it as authentically as possible.
“If you don’t have a foundation and a roof, then any building will deteriorate really rapidly,” she continued.
The barn has rare, intact historical resources the Historical Society wants to preserve, including working vintage looms and grain threshing tools. If the restoration campaign succeeds, Samoriski said the goal would be to expand programs for all ages at the barn.
“It’s a wonderful cause because the ultimate goal is to expand our activities for youth and adults and have it be a real educational center for local history,” she said. “We have looms set up and we definitely want to expand the weaving capacity in the barn. … We’re very excited about it.”
There is no concrete timeline for the fundraising campaign, but Samoriski said the Historical Society is hopeful to have a contractor working on site by the fall.
“The contractor has not yet been identified, but we have several interested, very capable contractors,” she said. “We estimate the project will continue for well over a year.”
Donations can be sent by check with “BARN” in the memo line and addressed to the Buckland Historical Society, P.O. Box 88, Buckland, MA, 01338. Donations may also be made online at bucklandmasshistory.org. An eight-minute video featuring the barn can also be found on the Historical Society’s website.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.