Meadow Ridge Heritage Barn interior work set to begin

COXSACKIE―In the summer of 2017, the Greene County Historical Society (GCHS) acquired an original 19th century hay barn that stood along State Route 81 in Coxsackie.

Over the course of three years, the historic structure was carefully dismantled, relocated several miles to the Bronck Museum grounds, and reconstructed on the footprint of a hay barn that once stood there.

Since then, the GCHS has been actively working and fundraising to complete the project that will turn the Meadow Ridge Heritage Barn into a multi-purpose venue for educational programs, community events, and special gatherings.

Earlier this summer, the organization received an $887,000 matching grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support adaptive reuse of the Meadow Ridge Heritage Barn.  

“The generous NYSCA grant will now allow the Society to transform the interior space into a multi-use performance and events space,” said Christine Byas, president of GCHS.

“The building will significantly expand our community outreach, programs, events, and performances,” added Byas.

To celebrate this milestone, Byas invites members of the community to join her and the Greene County Historical Society on Sunday, October 4 at 3 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official kickoff of the project.

The ceremony will take place inside the Meadow Ridge Heritage Barn during the Bronck Museum’s Annual Heritage Craft Fair.

The fair runs from noon to 4 p.m. with vendors on porches, nestled beside the barns, spread across the lawns and in the historic homes. Crafters will be offering traditional handmade goods including a variety of hand knitted, hand sewn, and quilted goods, hand spun knitting wool, spicy candles, handmade teddy bears, pottery and much more. There will be local maple syrup, honey products, and homemade jams.

Guests can stop under the oak trees to chat with Pieter Bronck himself and sample the potent drink he concocted more than 300 years ago, and visit the farm’s unusual thirteen-sided hay barn and exhibits.

Scarpa’s food truck will be serving up delicious fare and Running the River will perform American bluegrass and country music.

Visitors can check out the Meadow Ridge Heritage Barn where horse-drawn wagon rides by Larch Hill Farm will depart and local musician Luke Barnhart will perform. Inside the barn there will be several kids’ activities including face painting, a candy raffle, pumpkin painting and crafts.