NEWFIELD, NY (607NewsNow) – Officials are recognizing a historic structure in Tompkins County.
On September 12, Governor Hochul announced that New York’s Board of Historic Preservation is recommending the 1883 Barn in Newfield for the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The Victorian-era hay barn was converted into an art space in the 60s by Victoria Romanoff and Constance Saltonstall. According to Hochul’s office, the media coverage of the pair’s rescue of the aging structure raised the public profile of historic preservation in the region. Romanoff and Saltonstall went on to consult and work on other preservation projects in Tompkins County, including Ithaca’s Boardman House and Clinton House.
The barn had sat untouched for 25 years before it was purchased by local developer Seth Adams at the Tompkins County tax foreclosure auction in 2024. Adams and his team began restoring the barn’s foundation this summer in the first of three preservation stages.
If added to the registry, the barn, which was one of 20 properties recommended by the Board, would be eligible for preservation funds while ensuring the historic integrity of the structure is maintained.
“New York’s history is one of our greatest treasures,” said Governor Hochul. “These sites are more than buildings or landmarks – they are powerful connections to the people and stories that shaped our state. By adding these properties to the State and National Registers, we are reaffirming our commitment to honoring and preserving New York’s rich, diverse history for generations to come.”
Adams previously told WENY-TV he expects the foundation work to be finished this fall.
