Ithaca Commons
January 2025: We have two commercial spaces on the Ithaca Commons. We're currently at 100% occupancy. Availability can change, so do visit often and refresh your page!
Historic AD 1883 Barn Project, Newfield, NY
1/16/2025: Our newest acquisition has us in the planning phase as we simultaneously work on National Register and Historic Tax Credit eligibility for this beautiful historic icon in the rich farmland of Pony Hollow in Newfield, NY. We'll keep you posted on where things are as we move forward on the project! *Updated 1/16/2025
Determination of Eligibility:
A.D. 1883 Barn * 2981 Elmira Rd, Newfield, NY 14867
Description of Physical Appearance:
Located prominently on New York State Rte 13 in the town of Newfield in Tompkins County, the 1883 barn sits with its western elevation parallel to the road and in close proximity to it. It is one of the last remaining loose hay storage structures in Tompkins County with its white painted board and batten siding, unique 12’ rooftop cupola and large hammered tin weathervane (how it was stolen is also of vivid local lore). The “1883 Barn” is among the most iconic, well-known and well-loved structures in the region. At 45’ wide by 85’ long and nearly 60’ in height, the structure is put together in the then traditional “bent” method, or partially pre-fabricated post and beam construction locked together with notched braces and oak trunnels. The barn's massive gambrel roof is covered with hand split cedar shakes, with many original details remaining: brackets and stars in the cupola and bracketed rain caps over the large sliding barn doors and windows. The barn gable ends face north and south with the eastern elevation, a 1990’s installed 16x44 wooden deck and 75’ access ramp that faces a field of goldenrod that ends at Chaffee Creek, where the gentle slope of 42 acres rises to woodlands that border Newfield State Forest land. The post and beam timber frame structure appears straight, strong, and serviceable. Its board and batten wall structure is weather-beaten and in need of repair and protectant, especially in the southeast corner where water from a broken downspout has been trained on it without stoppage for years, rotting the exterior wood and interior sheetrock wall to a sizable opening in the East Gallery (Pic 15).
The basement foundation, which had been the focus of work initiated under most recent prior ownership (since 2000), is in need of repair and completion of work to save this structure. The masonry walls were removed in order to dig the basement deeper, ostensibly to allow for more clear height and was met with failure. An end to work occurred nearly two decades ago when the barn was more or less left to the elements. (Pics 75-86)
The interior of the first floor of the structure since its last major rehabilitation in the 1960’s is largely untouched and the building structurally sound. Many of the details for the rehabilitation and ownership of Romanoff and Saltonstall are present. They conceived of the re-programming of the structure from agricultural to living and gallery space. The detail of the work completed by Romanoff and Saltonstall on the main floor elevation beginning in 1965-1988 is approximately 85-90% intact; the kitchen-living-dining, gallery spaces and studios of the first floor are notably intact, with the exception of a darkroom which is about 80% demolished (pic 37-42). The basement work has largely been lost to the attempts by previous ownership to create more clearance; 90% of that work is largely lost, but evidence survives in the ceiling work of the old studio (Pic 75) and what is left of stucco/mortar wall delineation where an old bathroom was in the west elevation. More recent work after Romanoff and Saltonstall sold the building in 1988 is largely relegated to the installation of ceiling structures in the first floor Entry #2 (where the "recycled wood wall" Pic 14 is located), and in the "large open space" (Pics 47-50), with insulation also added throughout to allow for the use of heating and air conditioning systems for the entire first floor. This work including installing insulation above the old East and West galleries where Romanoff and Saltonstall had already installed ceilings, but lacked climate control.
The interior of the loft (as is true of the entire interior of the first floor) is covered in pigeon and bird droppings, but in serviceable condition. The 1960’s cedar shakes are still keeping the barn dry, but require imminent replacement, with the interior Sleeping Berth on the East elevation and Loft Studio on the West elevation are structurally intact, and serviceable (Pics 59-74). The floor of the Loft area otherwise is covered entirely in insulation, with two large defunct commercial HVAC units flanking the center span of beams on the north and south elevation (Pic 53) and insulated ducting traversing the space. Mattresses cover the kitchen’s skylight. (Pic 54)
Statement of Significance:
Construction began in 1882 by Isaac Osmun for a hay barn in the rich farming valley of "Pony Hollow” of the southern Tompkins County town of Newfield. Built as a value-add to the land he wished to sell, Osmun enlisted the work of Horseheads master carpenter John Smartwood. Its significance as a unique icon in the area truly began when two world-renowned artists, Constance Saltonstall and Victoria Romanoff purchased the barn in 1965, as the preservation and "back to the land" movement of the era was gaining traction in the public sphere with the ground-breaking idea of “recycling” and "adaptive re-use” --just prior to the passage of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. Romanoff and Saltonstall’s passion for championing preservation is well documented through deployment of many forms of protest and propaganda, from brilliant art they created for posters to newspaper ads, that found thousands rallying to the cause. Notably, their groundbreaking work with Historic Ithaca in leading preservation efforts of numerous buildings in the city (The Boardman House and Clinton House among many others) established their credentials as passionate preservationists. They were indeed living examples of how bringing the arts, arts community and preservation efforts together—could yield results and success.
At the 1883 Barn, as in so many of their projects of the time, Romanoff and Saltonstall creatively cleaned the structure from top to bottom, added windows and insulation in various rooms both on the first and second levels to create a living space, kitchen, bathroom and upper floor loft bedroom and adjacent studio-writing room, leaving the timber frame superstructure respectfully and completely intact (Windows and openings Pics 92-106). They meticulously repaired the unfinished and unpainted board and batten exterior, accentuating the defining original “AD 1883” feature on the structure and adding an attention getting unique paint scheme: an antique white with red and forest green trim, with the iconic "A.D. 1883" painted scroll at the top on both the north and south elevations. Most notably, from 1965-1988 it was both living and work space for them and home to numerous art exhibitions held there, notably “Giddy-up Napoleon, It Looks Like Rain: A Look at Farming in Tompkins County,” a 1976 tribute to Connie’s father, Leverett Saltonstall. It was home for them and their various dogs and even a goat at one time. In 1980, Romanoff and Saltonstall were awarded a Preservation Award from Historic Ithaca for their trail-blazing adaptive re-use of the 1883 Barn. From 1988-2000, deed records show that the barn was owned by JoAnn Brandes, and in the 1990's housed a country market for a short time, changing hands again in 2000, where it underwent prolonged attempts by its owner to do foundation work that is yet dangerously incomplete. Since 2000, the 1883 Barn has largely been neglected and left to the elements, reclaimed by nature. The barn timber frame structure is otherwise sound and ready for rehabilitation and reuse.
A.D. 1883 Barn * 2981 Elmira Rd, Newfield, NY 14867
Description of Physical Appearance:
Located prominently on New York State Rte 13 in the town of Newfield in Tompkins County, the 1883 barn sits with its western elevation parallel to the road and in close proximity to it. It is one of the last remaining loose hay storage structures in Tompkins County with its white painted board and batten siding, unique 12’ rooftop cupola and large hammered tin weathervane (how it was stolen is also of vivid local lore). The “1883 Barn” is among the most iconic, well-known and well-loved structures in the region. At 45’ wide by 85’ long and nearly 60’ in height, the structure is put together in the then traditional “bent” method, or partially pre-fabricated post and beam construction locked together with notched braces and oak trunnels. The barn's massive gambrel roof is covered with hand split cedar shakes, with many original details remaining: brackets and stars in the cupola and bracketed rain caps over the large sliding barn doors and windows. The barn gable ends face north and south with the eastern elevation, a 1990’s installed 16x44 wooden deck and 75’ access ramp that faces a field of goldenrod that ends at Chaffee Creek, where the gentle slope of 42 acres rises to woodlands that border Newfield State Forest land. The post and beam timber frame structure appears straight, strong, and serviceable. Its board and batten wall structure is weather-beaten and in need of repair and protectant, especially in the southeast corner where water from a broken downspout has been trained on it without stoppage for years, rotting the exterior wood and interior sheetrock wall to a sizable opening in the East Gallery (Pic 15).
The basement foundation, which had been the focus of work initiated under most recent prior ownership (since 2000), is in need of repair and completion of work to save this structure. The masonry walls were removed in order to dig the basement deeper, ostensibly to allow for more clear height and was met with failure. An end to work occurred nearly two decades ago when the barn was more or less left to the elements. (Pics 75-86)
The interior of the first floor of the structure since its last major rehabilitation in the 1960’s is largely untouched and the building structurally sound. Many of the details for the rehabilitation and ownership of Romanoff and Saltonstall are present. They conceived of the re-programming of the structure from agricultural to living and gallery space. The detail of the work completed by Romanoff and Saltonstall on the main floor elevation beginning in 1965-1988 is approximately 85-90% intact; the kitchen-living-dining, gallery spaces and studios of the first floor are notably intact, with the exception of a darkroom which is about 80% demolished (pic 37-42). The basement work has largely been lost to the attempts by previous ownership to create more clearance; 90% of that work is largely lost, but evidence survives in the ceiling work of the old studio (Pic 75) and what is left of stucco/mortar wall delineation where an old bathroom was in the west elevation. More recent work after Romanoff and Saltonstall sold the building in 1988 is largely relegated to the installation of ceiling structures in the first floor Entry #2 (where the "recycled wood wall" Pic 14 is located), and in the "large open space" (Pics 47-50), with insulation also added throughout to allow for the use of heating and air conditioning systems for the entire first floor. This work including installing insulation above the old East and West galleries where Romanoff and Saltonstall had already installed ceilings, but lacked climate control.
The interior of the loft (as is true of the entire interior of the first floor) is covered in pigeon and bird droppings, but in serviceable condition. The 1960’s cedar shakes are still keeping the barn dry, but require imminent replacement, with the interior Sleeping Berth on the East elevation and Loft Studio on the West elevation are structurally intact, and serviceable (Pics 59-74). The floor of the Loft area otherwise is covered entirely in insulation, with two large defunct commercial HVAC units flanking the center span of beams on the north and south elevation (Pic 53) and insulated ducting traversing the space. Mattresses cover the kitchen’s skylight. (Pic 54)
Statement of Significance:
Construction began in 1882 by Isaac Osmun for a hay barn in the rich farming valley of "Pony Hollow” of the southern Tompkins County town of Newfield. Built as a value-add to the land he wished to sell, Osmun enlisted the work of Horseheads master carpenter John Smartwood. Its significance as a unique icon in the area truly began when two world-renowned artists, Constance Saltonstall and Victoria Romanoff purchased the barn in 1965, as the preservation and "back to the land" movement of the era was gaining traction in the public sphere with the ground-breaking idea of “recycling” and "adaptive re-use” --just prior to the passage of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. Romanoff and Saltonstall’s passion for championing preservation is well documented through deployment of many forms of protest and propaganda, from brilliant art they created for posters to newspaper ads, that found thousands rallying to the cause. Notably, their groundbreaking work with Historic Ithaca in leading preservation efforts of numerous buildings in the city (The Boardman House and Clinton House among many others) established their credentials as passionate preservationists. They were indeed living examples of how bringing the arts, arts community and preservation efforts together—could yield results and success.
At the 1883 Barn, as in so many of their projects of the time, Romanoff and Saltonstall creatively cleaned the structure from top to bottom, added windows and insulation in various rooms both on the first and second levels to create a living space, kitchen, bathroom and upper floor loft bedroom and adjacent studio-writing room, leaving the timber frame superstructure respectfully and completely intact (Windows and openings Pics 92-106). They meticulously repaired the unfinished and unpainted board and batten exterior, accentuating the defining original “AD 1883” feature on the structure and adding an attention getting unique paint scheme: an antique white with red and forest green trim, with the iconic "A.D. 1883" painted scroll at the top on both the north and south elevations. Most notably, from 1965-1988 it was both living and work space for them and home to numerous art exhibitions held there, notably “Giddy-up Napoleon, It Looks Like Rain: A Look at Farming in Tompkins County,” a 1976 tribute to Connie’s father, Leverett Saltonstall. It was home for them and their various dogs and even a goat at one time. In 1980, Romanoff and Saltonstall were awarded a Preservation Award from Historic Ithaca for their trail-blazing adaptive re-use of the 1883 Barn. From 1988-2000, deed records show that the barn was owned by JoAnn Brandes, and in the 1990's housed a country market for a short time, changing hands again in 2000, where it underwent prolonged attempts by its owner to do foundation work that is yet dangerously incomplete. Since 2000, the 1883 Barn has largely been neglected and left to the elements, reclaimed by nature. The barn timber frame structure is otherwise sound and ready for rehabilitation and reuse.