NORWICH – The Chenango County Historical Society saw what was once a left field idea finally come to fruition over the weekend when it hosted the grand opening of the Loomis Barn, a project that’s been four years in the making.
CCHS cut the ribbon to the Loomis Barn on Saturday, thus ushering in a unique agricultural exhibition center featuring a collection of post Civil War displays and artifacts that reflect farm life and progression of the ag industry in Chenango County.
The center – dubbed the “Bob Marshman Agriculture Education Center” – includes photographs, written accounts and video presentations, along with recognition of businesses, individuals and other organizations that have been influential to the development of the local ag industry.
As for the barn itself, it’s perhaps the most exciting feature of exhibit, said CCHS Board President Joyce Zummo.
“This has been one of the most diverse and exciting projects I’ve ever been involved with,” said Zummo, citing the nearly 4,000 volunteer hours that went into the $400,000 venture of re-constructing the barn outback of the CCHS museum on Rexford Street.
The Loomis Barn concept was first brought to the table four years ago. The project entailed relocation and reconstruction of an 1860s horse barn once owned by the notorious Loomis family, a name made famous by the family’s acts of horse thievery and livestock rustling in the 19th century.
In 2011, the barn was gifted to CCHS by Dick Ridgway, owner of the property where it was previously located in the Town of Smithville.
“I came to the Historical Society to track the barn’s history because of what was written on the door. The door says 'PA Loomis, 1867,” said Ridgway.
Ridgway worked with CCHS and county historians Patricia Evans and Joan Lieb to research the history of the property and found that the barn had been built by the Loomis family. Knowing it would cost him upwards of $60,000 to restore the barn on site, Ridgeway instead decided to donate the structure to CCHS. It was professionally dismantled piece by pice and stored in a milkhouse on his property while CCHS went to work planning the next step to have it reconstructed in the City of Norwich.
“I thought that if I were to keep it, it would just be a barn full of junk. So why not give it to someplace that has an endowment that’s going to take care of it?” said Ridgeway. “It was an ideal situation. It needed a lot of repair; and once we tracked the history of it, and the Loomis family, it was a natural fit to give it to the Historical Society.”
CCHS finally raised enough monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to break ground in May, 2014. To make room for the barn, volunteers also needed to rebuild the “Lilly Building,” a single-story structure on museum grounds that houses a replica of a canal boat and other displays focused on the Chenango Canal.
“The support we’ve received for the entire project has been amazing,” said Zummo. “And the contribution this makes to the community – you can’t put a dollar amount to it.”
“This is something we’re very proud of. To present it to the world – this is our big moment,” said CCHS Curator Lisa Libby. “I think this brings back a lot of memories for the older folks, and there’s a lot to learn among some of the younger folks.”