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More changes for West Cornwall village

More changes for West Cornwall village
Artist William Betts has purchased the late Barbara Farnsworth’s building in West Cornwall village, and land between the post office and the former Yutzler’s store. He is seeking permission to also buy the old firehouse property.
Photo by Dave Cadwell

CORNWALL — With the recent sale of the Farnsworth property in West Cornwall to artist William Betts, the selectmen have received a request from Betts to purchase the former West Cornwall firehouse lot to annex to his adjacent property. He has also purchased property across the street between the post office and the former Yutzler’s Store.

The firehouse lot is very small but it would allow him a bit of parking space adjacent to the Farnsworth building, which he hopes to renovate into two commercial spaces.

“If it makes that property more usable, then helping the people is a good idea,” First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said at a meeting of the selectmen on Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Selectman Priscilla Pavel supported the proposal as a great idea, praising Betts for having come to the town.

Betts has also suggested to the town that a West Cornwall septic processing unit could be located on his property between the post office and the former Yutzler’s Store. He offered to work with the town on that proposal; it would have the added benefit of helping him to renovate the Farnsworth building, which stands now in need of water and septic.

Ridgway said that he would confer with West Cornwall septic project engineer Steve McDonald in considering the merits of the proposal.

“If we can bring together two businesses, and improve the parking area, it’s a good thing,” Ridgway commented.

The sale of the firehouse property will need to be included in a public hearing and then voted on by residents at a subsequent town meeting, Ridgway said.

Betts has earned recognition for his art using photographic stencils, which creates a dot pattern on his work that is reminiscent of early comic strips and the work of Roy Lichtenstein.

Leila Hawken

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