Posted on April 16, 2020
SUFFIELD – Hilltop Farm recently received a grant of $85,000 for the completion of a fire suppression system for the iconic dairy barn. The property, managed and partially restored by the Friends of the Farm at Hilltop (FOFAH), has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005.
Originally constructed in 1914, the 20,000 square foot dairy barn was built as part of a 500 acre estate by Indian Motorcycle entrepreneur George Hendee. FOFAH owns 7.9 acres of the property which includes the buildings, and has managed the rest of the property under a lease agreement with the town of Suffield since 2004.
The property is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and the friends group runs a number of programs during the summer for children and adults. However, public use of the dairy barn as an event venue has been hindered by the lack of a fire suppression system.
“I was happy to have played a role in facilitating the grant process with the state’s Historic Preservation Office,” said Rep. Zawistowski. “These grant funds bring this magnificent colonial revival style barn one step closer to public use.”
Reps. Zawistowski & Simanski, and Sen. Kissel tour the Hilltop Farm in Suffield CT. May 17, 2016.
The grant funding was provided through the Connecticut Community Investment Act which was signed into law in 2005. The Act provides funding for open space, historic preservation, farmland preservation and other related purposes.
For more information about Hilltop Farm or to get involved, visit www.hilltopfarmsuffield.org or facebook.com/HilltopFarmSuffield.