by Bea Peterson
Hoosick Town Historian Phil Leonard drove to the Bennington Battlefield Wednesday. He was heartsick. “It’s despicable what they have let happen in such a short time,” he said. “Even if they open the Park again, it won’t be the same. The grass is already 10 inches high!” The gate across the Battlefield road is shut, and a red and white closed sign is on it. “It should say abandoned,” said Leonard in disgust. “NY State lawmakers should be ashamed of themselves! They do not care about the people of this state at all!” He was so upset that he said he feels all the incumbents should be voted out of office! “If it wasn’t for that battle, they might not even be in office!” he added.
“What about the trees,” he said. The maple trees that line the roadway up to the Battlefield were planted by the Town in memory of Hoosick soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. Now the townspeople have no access to them. Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly is disappointed the Battlefield is closed. He feels it is more than just another historical site and that it deserves respect. “It’s a cemetery,” he said. “Soldiers died there.”
The park closing fiasco is greater across the road at the Barnett House. More than five years ago then NYS Assemblyman Roy McDonald, now State Senator McDonald, walked that land along the Walloomsac River with members of the Town Board who wanted to work with the State to use the Barnett House and create a greater historic connection between the Battlefield and the House. Come up with a plan, McDonald told them, and you will have my support. The Town Board and the newly formed Friends of the Battlefield did just that. They signed an agreement with the State to keep up the house and the State would maintain the lands. Phyllis Chapman began Vintage Voices, a group that brought history to life. Upon entering the Barnett House visitors were treated to a huge display of the battle site. The interpreters clearly described what happened those two days in August 1777 between the British and the Revolutionaries. Dressed in Victorian costumes, they gave tours of the house and described fully what life was like in that time period. Visitors saw the parlor, the bedroom, a workroom with loom and a school room. They had an opportunity to play games popular 150 years ago. The seasons often opened with sheep shearing, outdoor cooking, dancing and more. There were plays and fashion shows and Christmas programs at the Barnett House. Last year Flag Day ceremonies took place in the yard outside the House. Historic summer camps for children were extremely popular.
One of the highlights near the House in 2005 was a two day re-enactment on portions of the Battlefield along Cottrell Road, just after NYS purchased the land to claim more of the actual battlefields. Over two hundred re-enactors camped on the site, and visitors saw how Revolutionary soldiers lived. It was a fantastic weekend and drew many visitors to the Barnett House for the first time.
Last fall, when US Congressman Scott Murphy was running for office, he and Congressman Paul Tonka listened to Engineer Charles Tutunjian describe the new bridge that would be built over the Walloomsac River near the Barnett House with stimulus money. The purpose of the bridge was to give visitors better access to the Cottrell Road battlefield and to make it safer for them to return to Route 67. “The state never wanted to put up a big sign directing visitors to the Barnett House because it was so dangerous for them to pull out onto Route 67,” said Chapman. “This year we could have had a large sign and attracted more people,” she added. While it was under construction, some referred to the Barnett bridge as the bridge to nowhere. Today that’s exactly what it is, though it does give fire departments a shorter route to some houses on Cottrell Road.
Actually, with support from the Town and from the Friends group, the Barnett House could have opened this year. However, the Town Board chose not to support Chapman’s efforts because the Battlefield was closed and because the lawns were not being maintained. The grass around the house is as long as that on the roadway to the Battlefield. The Friends group does not have enough to fund the entire Vintage Voice program and are reluctant to do anything since the Town is not supporting the project.
Chapman is sorely disappointed. She and her family have put countless hours into improving the Barnett House. Two winters ago Mike Chapman spent months building beautiful cupboards and display cabinets on the porch to create an attractive gift shop. “We’ve invested a lot of money in furnishing the house,” said Phyllis. “All of that will have to be sold.” She said they’ve struggled to make a success of Vintage Voices for the past five years. “This was the year we thought we would finally make a profit,” she said. As a family, summer work is important to them, and they will have to try something else.
Thus, another small business bites the dust in these tough economic times, and Hoosick loses another small gem that will probably never be replaced. Even if the Park does open, once the Town contract with the State ends in December, who is to say the Town will want to continue adding to history by keeping the Barnett House going. What a shame.
Television reports optimistically believe the closed Parks will be opened by Memorial weekend. Who knows what to believe when the State budget is already two months late and the Branches of State government decline to work together.
