This is a classic New England hillside barn, used for hay storage, animal shelter, dairying, apple storage, and workshops.  It is part of the Bryant Homestead, a National Historic Landmark, the home of the famous 19th century poet.  Although the red barn on the hillside above Cummington has been captured in countless works of art, the interior is an untapped educational resource.  The haymows are intact, the dairy contains much of its original equipment, and the timber frame is a testament to 19th-century craftsmanship.  It is an increasingly rare survival – an intact New England barn.

In announcing the grant, National Trust Northeast Regional Director Wendy Nicholas said, “With these start-up dollars, The Trustees of Reservations joins hundreds of other organizations across the country actively ensuring that America’s architectural and cultural heritage is preserved.”  The Cherry Valley Group, located in Cherry Valley, New York, will provide the consultant services.

Through its Preservation Services Fund program, the National Trust offers small matching grants to nonprofit groups and public agencies to support a wide range of local historic preservation projects across the nation.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, chartered by Congress in 1949, is a nonprofit organization with more than 270,000 members.  As a leader of the national preservation movement, it is committed to saving America’s diverse historic environments and to preserving and revitalizing the livability of communities nationwide.  The Northeast Office coordinates the programs of the National Trust within the ten northeastern states and provides a wide range of services adapted to the needs of the region.