Meadowood Property – Update on Tobacco Barns

The Town of Simsbury has been the owner of the property known as Meadowood for two months!  We celebrated at a wonderful ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 16, 2021.  Since that time, the Town has been working with the Trust for Public Land, the State Historic Preservation Office, and other partners to plan for the restoration of some of the historic tobacco barns on the property.

There are currently thirteen barns across the 288-acre property, and a fourteenth barn is located on the Barndoor Hills triangle from a previous open space acquisition.  One of the barns on Firetown Road is in very poor condition, and has deteriorated beyond the point of rehabilitation. Due to the existing safety hazard, this barn will be taken down the week of December 13, 2021.  We hope to salvage some of the wood from the barn to be used by local organizations for an art and fundraising project.

The remaining barns on Firetown Road, as well as the two barns on Hoskins Road, will be braced for temporary stabilization.  This will allow time for the Town, the Trust for Public Land, and the State Historic Preservation Office to evaluate the barns for permanent restoration.  That plan will be developed over the coming months and restoration work is anticipated next year.