NORWICH – Out with the old and in with the new set the tone at a ceremony held last week at the Chenango County Historical Society complex on Rexford Street in Norwich.

Community members and Historical Society affiliates listened as speakers announced the dedication of the newly built Thomas W. Knapp herb garden in honor of the late historian and museum advocate.

The completion of all the garden's components has been a year and a half in the making, and the volunteer effort comes as a welcomed addition to the museum’s grounds.

Amid the many recent transformations and upgrades to the growing facility, a garden once tended by the former master gardener had to be razed to facilitate the new construction of a barn exhibit that will showcase agricultural displays later this year.

The new exhibit will include an original Loomis Barn, transported in its entirety from Tyner, NY and reassembled piece by piece. The barn will serves as an agricultural education center in the future.

“When we started doing different things and planning for the barn, the original garden was taken out by Bruce Webster and the Wednesday morning crew, who helped us build and design this new garden in memory of Tom Knapp,” said Historical Society Board President Joyce Zummo