Photograph taken from Little Hogback Ridge of the Hoag family farm, circa 1950. The Brown/Hoag barn is the central building on the far side of the road, the only remaining farm building still standing. Photo <c> L. Hoag (2006).
After the Hoag family sold their farm in the early 1990s, the Brown/Hoag barn fell into a state of neglect and disrepair that progressed at an alarming rate, finding it rotten and collapsing in many places when the Willowell Foundation finally purchased the 230-acre parcel now known as the Willowell Land. Years of exposure to the elements, unfixed leakages and missing sections of roofing had taken their toll on this once-noble building.
Though counseled by two separate assessors to raze the barn, the Willowell Foundation recognized the historic significance of the building and its importance as a landmark to the Monkton community and to the Hoag family who still resided in the area, as well as to the larger community of Vermont. The Willowell Board decided to attempt to preserve the remaining portions of the barn and eventually restore it and use it once more.
©2007-2008 The Willowell Foundation
PO Box 312
Bristol, VT 05443
(802) 453-6195
Website by Emily Watson-Blagden, Willowell Foundation A*VISTA 06-07
Farm and Garden
Barn Restoration Initiative
In Vermont, family farms are a defining characteristic of the landscape and one of the many historic features of the state. As the center-
piece of most farms, barns represent the spirit of community and connection
with the land that Vermont is known for. The historic Brown/Hoag barn, landmark of the Willowell Land, is just such a building. Built in 1803 by the Brown/Hoag family and used since the 1950s to house their small herd of dairy cows, the Brown/Hoag barn is a strong community landmark in the town of Monkton and represents a visual link with the past for both the Hoag family and the Monkton community.
During the summer of 2006, the Willowell
Huntington, VT to begin the first phase of
the restoration. Though much of the barn
had to be demolished due to structural
failure brought on by rot, the central
portion of the building was saved and
stabilized.
Since the initial restoration of the barn took place, the building has been used primarily as a storage space for the Walden Community Garden, as a shelter for visiting student groups, and as the site of Willowell’s first Heart of the Watershed Party, held in October 2006 in partnership with the Lewis Creek Association.
Interior view of the restored Brown/Hoag family barn, decorated
for the October 1st Heart of the Watershed Party. Photo <c> EKWB (2006)
Interior view of the Brown/Hoag family barn, including historical photograph
displays from the Heart of the Watershed Party. Photo <c> EKWB (2006)
Without further restoration, the Brown/Hoag barn will remain structurally viable for the next 3 to 5 years. The Willowell Foundation plans to continue the restoration process as funding becomes available.
Getting Involved
There are several ways to support the Willowell Barn Restoration Initiative. These include:
Volunteering to help clean out the barn, perform routine maintenance, and monitor the barn’s structural viability over time.
Donations made to the Willowell Annual Fund will go directly to supporting the Barn Restoration Initiative and Willowell’s other programs.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, or if you would like more information about the Barn Restoration Initiative, please Contact Us.