Gov. Phil Scott recognized the recipients of 16 State Historic Preservation Grants and 17 Barn Preservation Grants at a ceremony held at the State House on March 15.
The 33 grants, totaling $461,899, were awarded to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and private barn owners in 13 Vermont counties to repair and rehabilitate public buildings and agricultural landmarks.
The list included grants for several barns in Windham County - $15,000 each for the Retreat Farm in Brattleboro and the Clark Farm in Newfane.
Established in 1837, the Retreat Farm is the original working farm for the Brattleboro Retreat mental hospital. It was established to provide food, fuel, and meaningful work for patients.
In 2001, 500 acres were acquired and conserved by the Windham Foundation, which then granted the property to the Retreat Farm Ltd. In 2016, a new nonprofit was formed to restore and re-purpose the historic site.
According to the state Division for Historic Preservation, the grant funds will help offset the costs of repairing slate roofs at eight barns at the farm.
The Clark Farm, a 70-acre property in Newfane, was an active dairy farm until the late 1950s. The Liebeler family has owned the property since 1961 and leases the farm fields to a neighboring farm.
Grant funds will support work to address the circa 1840 barn's failing roof; repair framing members that have deteriorated due to roof leaks; complete door and window repairs; and repair a section of foundation under the barn's main entry door.
“Vermont's vibrant and rich history is directly linked to the vitality and success of our future,” Scott said in a news release. “By investing in our historic buildings, we are acknowledging they remain the cornerstones of our communities and culture.“
“These grants enable investment that increases awareness of our heritage, educates the public about historic resources, and bolsters the economic growth of Vermont,” said state Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann.
“The recipients deserve recognition for their commitment to historic resources, which not only recount Vermont's community and agricultural past, but strengthen the significance of our working landscapes,” she added.
The Division for Historic Preservation administers state-funded matching grants for the repair of Vermont's historic agricultural buildings.
These grants are awarded by the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. To qualify, buildings must be at least 50 years old and/or listed, or eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The maximum amount for each grant is $15,000, with many recipients spending more than the required match.