Historical Society modernizes, while respecting its historic roots

CORNWALL — Much like the town itself, the renovated Cornwall Historical Society building is a graceful blending of old and new.

While board members and other volunteers were busy raising donations and grant funds to cover the cost of the renovation work, architect Richard Wolkowitz was faced with a dual challenge: Double the amount of interior space, while retaining the look (on the outside, at least) of an old carriage barn — minus the barn doors.

The property lent itself well to the approach. Narrow, deep and sloped toward the rear, it allowed all the room needed to be discreetly added on as a three-story addition in the back.

With eight months of work now in the bag, the project is close enough to completion to be deemed a success. What was originally a carriage barn and then an exhibit-and-storage space inside a former carriage barn that had been converted to a house is now poised for its debut as a beautiful, unique and “real� museum.

Wolkowitz lives two doors down from this, his latest project, but his career has focused on larger projects, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

“I’m used to big buildings with big budgets and lots of complications,� Wolkowitz said during a tour last week of the society building. “This is certainly different. But there was also the possibility that we would encounter problems we couldn’t anticipate. That hasn’t been the case. Although we did feel confident that we would be able to deal with anything that came up.�

He gets a kick out of the building’s history. It was built around 1885, and was last used as a carriage barn by its second owner, Charles Marsh. He was a man who wore many hats in the village, including that of the undertaker; the barn was once home to his horse-drawn hearse.

By coincidence, Wolkowitz also designed the recent renovation of the former Marvelwood School building in the village into a private home. In 1966, two years after the Historical Society was incorporated, society members bought the building for $14,000. Without funds to pay the mortgage, they initially rented it to Marvelwood as a dormitory (the school later moved to Kent).

Last week was a wonderful time to take a look. The renovation is almost complete — but there is enough left to do that a visitor can still get a sense of where it all began.

The foyer, once a tiny space that led off in two directions, has been enlarged and enclosed on one side. Transom windows, part of the facade, were left in place, despite the second-floor work that should have covered them up; Wolkowitz designed a pop-up to keep the windows uncovered and visible from the foyer.

Visitors will now be funneled without confusion into the two main exhibit spaces.

What won’t be missed is the massive chimney that took up an inordinate amount of space in the core of the building. The fireplace was also removed. What was once the main exhibit space is now a larger space, and leads into an even bigger gallery, with a soaring ceiling. Wolkowitz used rafter space to create a unique assortment of ceiling angles that blend into one clear wall span that soars 13 or 14 feet.

“We wanted to have one big installation space. It would be the spot to hang a large old quilt or something along those lines,� he said.

The main floor also includes a handicapped-accessible restroom, a library that can be used for exhibits and a kitchenette.

Bright open spaces are a notable change. But barn-style windows and original rough-hewn beams left exposed here and there preserve the feel of the old building.

Where a central staircase was removed, Wolkowitz added a structural crossbeam, tying it in with other exposed beams. It will be stained to match the old one.

That beam helps support a new cupola. Society members launched a search for the old one, hoping against reasonable hope that it had been stashed away intact in someone’s barn. It was not recovered, and Wolkowitz said a replica will be delivered soon.

Another priority in the renovation was safe storage of documents and artifacts, as well as better access for genealogists and other researchers.

The second floor is now accessed by a code-compliant stairwell, where visitors don’t have to remember to duck to avoid a low-hanging beam.

An office and records were once tucked into three tiny bedrooms; now there are three offices, each with separate climate control to accommodate specific activities in each room. Wolkowitz opens an antique door, revealing a walk-in closet.

“It was the only thing they asked me to leave alone,� he said. “It was already mouse- and moisture-proofed. They use it to store their textiles collection.�

Climate control was a big issue. A new heating plant is energy-efficient. Air-conditioning ductwork has been installed.

“For many, the biggest change will be where the fewest people will see it,� Wolkowitz said. The dank basement used to house only the cement vault and an old furnace. It is now watertight, with the vault encased in its own new space. With the wall-mounted propane boiler mounted on a utility room wall, the former furnace room is being finished off as a research room. It is charming, with a stone foundation wall and ceiling beams left exposed.

“Before, records had to be lugged upstairs for anyone wanting to do research. Everyone hated it.�

Now, an exterior door leads directly into the workroom. The basement also has a set of double doors to allow for delivery of large artifacts.

There will be other changes and subtle improvements, ones that echo the overall goal of retaining the old while increasing ease of use. For instance, the uneven slabs of granite that form the front steps will be leveled off and repositioned. They are quaint, but represent a safety hazard. The front walk is not very long, and was once a driveway, so the front entrance hardly needs more than a single step. The sidewalk now takes a decided dip in the center. That will be leveled off. The final result will be a handicapped-accessible entrance without an obtrusive ramp.

The project is being funded through numerous private donations, a $250,000 state STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grant and a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut.

Wolkowitz said they are on schedule to open sometime this summer.