This week the Town of Woodbridge Facilities Department made the first step in renovating the Farm. They cleared around the most important structures to help save and protect them from vandalism.
The Stone Barn, built by John Massaro Sr in 1931, was surrounded by dilapidated chicken coops and lean-to sheds. The coops were cleared away leaving solid cement slabs that could be reused in the future. The attached sheds were taken down and the ground leveled.
(left: old chicken coops, right: coops removed)
The Wisconsin-style Dairy Barn was being reclaimed by mother nature. Vines had crept behind the siding and reached through holes in the roof. Along the road was a small shed which used to access the silo. The shed had no roof and could not be saved. The roof of the dairy barn has a number of holes and the shingles are falling apart. A heavy duty black tarp was applied to protect if from the elements until a new roof can be installed.
(dairy barn viewed from the road)
(left: BEFORE east end of barn, right: AFTER east end of barn)
The house is already in reasonably good shape but needed vines, briars, and small trees removed.
John Massaro Jr. used to park his tractor in a barn next to the road. Years ago that barn was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground leaving a cement foundation. That foundation has been removed and the ground leveled making way for a future parking area at the Farm.
Our deepest thanks go to the Town for starting us down the road to reconstruction.