 BARN PRESERVATION IN
MOUNT HOLLY
Mount Holly Barn Preservation Association
P.O. Box 129
Belmont, VT 05730
(802) 259 2344
Randy Hawkins
Marcy Tanger
Annette Lynch
The Mount Holly Barn Preservation Association may appear to have just "growed
like Topsy"; but its roots go back to early 2002, when the Mount Holly
Planning Commission, responding to community concern about rapid, disruptive
development, surveyed residents about their vision for the future of the Town.
Leading the list of what people prized and wanted to preserve was the
"rural and historic" character of the Town.
 The Planning Commission appointed a Working Group that began documenting and
photographing the scenic and historic beauties of the Town. In the Fall of 2004,
the Working Group led a well-attended Bus Tour of scenic and historic Mount
Holly.
In the course of these activities, the Working Group was introduced to Randy
Hawkins and his magnificent barn, farm house (former stagecoach inn), farm
fields that encircle the historic Packer Cemetery, and the splendid views
throughout his property.
The Working Group learned of the family’s deep connection with the farm,
their determination to continue farming as long as possible, and their ongoing
struggle to maintain and to preserve the buildings on their land.
One member of the Working Group, familiar with the barn preservation grant
program of the State of Vermont, suggested that Mr. Hawkins apply for a grant.
With only 7 days to the deadline for submission of grant requests the Working
Group and Mr. Hawkins went into overdrive – wrote the grant proposal, took
photos of the inside and outside of the barn, and asked a builder with historic
preservation experience to assess the required work and to give an estimate of
the costs involved.
The builder, Steven Melanson, described the barn:
"A 7-bay, eaves front, late nineteenth century dairy barn. The
construction is traditional mortise and tenon timber frame. I am of the
opinion that this structure is one of the best examples of this particular
genre in the region and perhaps the state. The joinery, while it has been
"tinkered with", is superb. Modifications made perhaps soon after
its construction were done
well and have not compromised the structural integrity to any serious
degree. The barn is the centerpiece of what had been a magnificent farm."
 Before the result of the grant application was known, Randy Hawkins decided
that all Mount Holly barn owners should be able to receive the type of
assistance the Working Group had provided to him. Further, he expressed the view
that the sight of barns collapsing because of the inability of owners to afford
essential maintenance should become a thing of the past in Mount Holly.
Mr. Hawkins and the Working Group talked about forming a barn preservation
group and started collecting data on historic barns in town.
- Over 50 historic barns were identified, photographed, and the photos were
placed in a loose leaf binder - The Mount Holly Barn Book.
- Small photos of each barn were mapped on a large display map of the town
- Using the example of the New Hampshire barn preservation program, a survey
form was drafted so that Mount Holly barn owners can document the status of
their barns.
- A database was created of names and addresses of the identified barns and
their owners.
- The members of the Working Group have attended meetings on barn
preservation and have started a collection of relevant materials and books
- A draft of the mission and proposed activities of a Mount Holly Barn
Preservation Association was written.
- A meeting was held on March 18, 2005 in the Belmont Community Association
Library. Ten very enthusiastic people – most owners of historic barns –
attended. After discussion of barn maintenance problems, conversion of barns
to other uses, and the need for resources, the group endorsed the plan to
form a Barn Preservation Association and discussed the next steps in the
process
MOUNT HOLLY HISTORIC BARN
PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
Dedicated to the repair, maintenance, and
preservation of the
historic barns of Mount Holly
The Association is an organization of those who own and admire Mount Holly’s
historic barns. We know that the preservation of historic barns is an essential
element in sustaining the rural and historical character of the Town of Mount
Holly, Vermont and we believe that group action is more powerful than individual
effort in order to mobilize community action and to raise funds for barn
preservation.
To preserve the barns of Mount Holly the Association will:
-
Figure out what needs to be done
-
Do it
-
Let others know what we do and have done
1. To assess what needs to be done to preserve Mount Holly’s Historic
Barns, we will:
- Keep a Register of the Historic Barns of Mount Holly (defined as barns
over 50 years of age) including photos, maps, architectural drawings,
historical details, farm equipment and machinery, and items of
archaeological interest.
- Maintain and update owners’ assessments of the preservation needs of
their barns.
- Obtain professional evaluations of the preservation status of individual
barns.
- Every two years prepare a Report of the Preservation Status of Mount Holly’s
Historic Barns and make it available to Association members, to the
officials of the Town of Mount Holly, and to the Mount Holly Community
Historical Museum, and the community at large.
2. To repair, maintain, and preserve the Historic Barns of Mount Holly, we
will:
- Identify sources of funds for the repair, maintenance, and preservation of
individual historic barns
- Identify sources of funds to implement a town plan for the preservation of
its historic barns
- Identify sources of funds for activities that can be linked to historic
preservation, such as farming conservation, land conservation, alternative
agriculture, commercial ventures, business incubators, affordable housing,
cultural activities, education, alternative energy use, recreation, and farm
tourism
- Develop relationships with barn preservation departments of state and
federal governments, with state and national non-profit barn preservation
organizations, with local, state and national historic associations, and
with foundations interested in activities such as historic preservation,
agricultural heritage, and rural development
- Apply for grants to improve the preservation status of Mount Holly’s
barns
- Assist barn owners to apply for barn preservation grants
- Raise matching funds if stipulated by grant requirements
- Use the work of volunteers as in-kind contribution to matching funds for
grants;
- Recruit volunteers to perform direct repair and maintenance work on barns
- Organize work crews from individual volunteers, or in conjunction with
volunteer organizations such as summer camps, AmeriCorps, RSVP, or service
organizations
- Raise funds for materials, supplies, and equipment needed for repair,
maintenance and preservation work done by volunteers.
3. To inform the community of the preservation status of Mount Holly’s
Historic Barns, we will:
- Enhance the community’s knowledge of historic barns by activities such
as guided tours; presentations by barn experts; historic exhibits such as
photos, displays of farm equipment and machinery; demonstrations of barn
building repair and maintenance activities; on-site explanations of repair
and maintenance; volunteer work in historic preservation activities;
demonstrations of farm equipment and machinery repair and blacksmithing;
volunteer archaeological activities in and around barns
- Include historic barn visits in historic tours conducted by the Mount
Holly Community Historical Museum
- Share the content of meetings, plans, reports, grant applications, fund
raising, and publicity to promote appreciation of the beauty, architecture,
and history of Mount Holly’s Historic Barns.
For More Information About the Mt. Holly Barn Preservation Association,
please contact:
Randy Hawkins, 1-802-259-2413
nighthawkrw@vermontel.net
Annette Lynch, 1-802-259-2596
amlynch@vermontel.net
Marcy Tanger, 1-802-259-2344
tanger@vermontel.net
Mount Holly Barn Preservation Association
P.O. Box 129
Belmont, VT 05730
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