SHERBURNE – As anyone who has driven past The Sherburne Inn in the last month has noticed, progress on this historic building — purchased by Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project, Inc. (SSIRP) in April of 2013 — is most certainly (and at last) being made.
Exterior work on the building began on July 13 under the supervision of general contractors Rich and Gardner, and architect Randy Crawford of Crawford and Stearns. Phase one will include brick pointing and general masonry, window restoration, porch deck and porch roof work, trim painting, and column restoration.
“We couldn’t be happier with the headway being made so far,” SSIRP President Kathleen Yasas said this week. “The north-side add-on porch roof, not part of the original construction, is gone; the porch decks are being rebuilt; trim color has been selected; historic columns have been stripped and are awaiting paint; windows are undergoing restoration; and brickwork has begun. We started with an abandoned structure full of birds and broken windows, and now have a building in the process of returning to being a focal point – and a social center – for the village.”
She added, “Both Randy Crawford and Rich and Gardner are doing a fantastic job. We’re on schedule, and expect Phase one to conclude on time, sometime in December.”
What’s next? “We need to make our matches,” Yasas said. “Not only do we have the $25,000 NBT grant to match, but we also have to match the $500,000 New York State economic development grant. That grant will take us to inside restoration.”
SSIRP has set up a GoFundMe campaign site (www.gofundme.com/gej4wj98) which invites individuals and corporations to donate online. “People in Sherburne and in surrounding communities have been incredibly generous,” Yasas said. “Now we’re being approached by representatives of area corporations, who are realizing the impact The Inn will have on their businesses in terms of guest rooms, dining opportunities, meeting space ... and convenience. In general, the sentiment is ‘We can’t wait for The Inn to be open, we need hotel rooms in this area.’ SSIRP agrees, of course, but we’re going to need their support, in this early stage and going forward.”
Of particular note in SSIRP’s fundraising efforts is an upcoming event on October 24, being held in collaboration with the Chenango County Arts Council. “The Arts Council and SSIRP are co-hosting a Speakeasy Masquerade Ball, to be held at the Arts Council building in Norwich,” Yasas said. “We chose that theme to tie into the timeframe that the Inn was opened, the early 1900s. The idea is for guests to ‘come to the speakeasy’ in era-appropriate costume, enjoy live music and dancing, good food, libations, raffles, auctions, and in general to have a good time. Of course, we also hope to raise funds for both the Arts Council and SSIRP.” To purchase tickets for the event, go to chenangoartscouncil.thundertix.com/.
“It’s been really gratifying to see how much is being done at The Inn this summer, and how quickly,” Yasas said. “I imagine everybody in Sherburne would agree that it’s taken a long time to get things moving, but the SSIRP board felt it was important to be sure all of our ducks were in a row before the first hammer fell. Now we’re there.”
Conceptualized as an economic driver for Sherburne and for the surrounding area, SSIRP plans to reopen The Inn with sleeping rooms, event space, conference space, a farm-to-table restaurant and bar, a tavern, retail space, and office space. Temporary and permanent part- and full-time jobs will be created both during the restoration and after The Inn has been reopened.
For more information on The Sherburne Inn and SSIRP, or to donate to SSIRP grant matches via credit card, visit www.thesherburneinn.org or www.gofundme.com/gej4wj98. Checks made payable to SSIRP may be mailed to P.O. Box 1102, Sherburne, NY 13460.
SSIRP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations to SSIRP are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.