Update on Dryden’s Southworth Homestead renovation

For the past decade, the Dryden Town Historical Society (DTHS) has been renovating the Southworth Homestead on North Street in the Village of Dryden.

Most of the restoration projects have been for the house on the property, including the brick facade, the outdoor steps, the shutters and different areas inside the house.

DTHS is now centering its focus on the barn, which is slightly behind and to the side of the Southworth House. Once used as a carriage house for the Southworth family’s horse and buggy, DTHS has had multipurpose use for the barn.

“It’s sort of the last big project for us to restore, and bring it back close to what it was in the old days when it was built,” said John Kiefer, treasurer for DTHS.

When DTHS was “bequeathed the property” from Rebecca Southworth Simpson and her family in 2012, Kiefer said volunteers of the historical society knew the barn had to be one of the main restoration projects. Kiefer is unsure when exactly the barn was built, but noted it could have been built in the early-to-mid 1800s.

“We do know the barn used to be bigger,” Kiefer said. “It was twice as long as it is now.”

DTHS decided to hire Seth Brewster, owner and contractor of Brewster and Company in Tompkins County, to restore the barn to its former glory. Brewster and his contractors specialize in timber framing and antique structure repair and renovation.

“He’s the real thing,” Kiefer said. “I’m so happy he’s on-site doing the work for us. It’s really fun to watch people like him do what they do.”

Kiefer noted the 24-foot wide, 30-foot tall structure was never “in danger of falling down.”

“Old barns are remarkably sturdy structures,” Kiefer said. “As long as you keep the roof from leaking, they can last a long time.”

In this instance, though, Kiefer added that the barn had started to sag and the foundation was falling apart.

“It’s been happening for quite some time,” Kiefer said.

Brewster, who’s been doing restoration work for over 30 years and enjoys renovating historic barns, plans to put in new posts, new footings, replace parts of the frame, add some braces and update the stairway and siding. Brewster will also replace the rotting structural pieces, and put in a new door and new windows.

“(Brewster) will be replacing all of it,” Kiefer said.

DTHS only has black-and-white photos of the barn, meaning the original color of the barn is unclear. Brewster will repaint the barn any color desired, but noted red seems to be “a more traditional” color.

Kiefer anticipates the project will be completed in the spring.

“It’s just getting here and getting a grip on everything,” Brewster said. “The building itself will dictate how much work needs to be done.”

Kiefer mentioned that DTHS is accepting donations to cover the “significant cost” of supplies for the restoration project.

“Most of the work we’ve done on the property was made possible by generous gifts from people in the community,” Kiefer said.

Brewster said the barn is worth saving.

“I’m happy that (DTHS) is saving it,” Brewster added. “It’s a well-built barn with a great foundation.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden elementary schools collecting food

The Dryden Central School District’s Cassavant, Dryden and Freeville elementary schools are collecting non-perishable food donations for the Dryden Kitchen Cupboard food pantry.

The food collection began on Monday, Jan. 29 and will go until Feb. 9. Students can bring in cans or boxes of food to their respective elementary schools. DCSD is asking for students to not bring in glass containers or expired items.

DTHS working on new exhibit

The Dryden Town Historical Society is working on a new exhibit about rural schools in the Town of Dryden.

DTHS currently has photographs, diplomas and yearbooks to display. Anyone who wants to loan other memorabilia or items for the display can contact DTHS at 607-844-9209 or drydennyhistory@gmail.com.

Dryden students to hold can drive in February

Students from Dryden Middle School are holding a bottle and can drive from Feb. 10 to 17 at the Clark’s Food Mart in the Village of Dryden.

The money raised will go toward a trip to Hershey Park for eighth-grade students this year.

Book club to meet on Feb. 15

The Books & Brew club is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 1771 Dryden Rd. in the Village of Freeville.

The theme for books in February is through the decades between 1900 and 1919. Any book set in that time period or about events, people and things during the time period can be shared with the club. The book can be either a biography, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, an audio book or other options.

Some suggested books are on display at the Southworth Library at 24 W. Main St. in Dryden. To register for the club, go to southworthlibrary.org.