Irondale relocation waiting on state's OK

MILLERTON — As of this week, the ball is in the state’s and county’s court in the quest to move the Irondale Schoolhouse onto state property next to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. An agreement between the state and the Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse, if approved, will clear a major hurdle for the project and then allow the not-for-profit organization to move forward with fundraising efforts.

Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse met early last week with Dick Wambach of state Assemblyman Marc Molinaro’s office, Wint Aldrich, deputy commissioner for the State Historic Preservation Office, and Jayne McLaughlin, regional director for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They toured the current location of the schoolhouse, north of the village on Route 22, as well as the proposed location, a few hundred feet back from the head of the Rail Trail in Millerton.

Having the state sign off on the project isn’t an easy task. As Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse Board Chairman Ralph Fedele explained, the State Historic Preservation Office was initially hesitant to endorse the proposal because it was moving the schoolhouse from its original location.

The building was constructed in 1858, and although historical records aren’t clear, the schoolhouse may have last been used as a classroom back in the 1930s. Much of the original construction has been preserved for the last 150 years. Floyd Rosini, whose family owns the Rosini antiques building on the same property, purchased the building and land about 20 years ago from the Brunese family.

“We felt it was important to show them the condition of the building,� Fedele said.

The schoolhouse in its current location can’t be properly utilized for the village’s tourism trade, he argued. However, Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse, along with the North East Historical Society (Fedele is also the society’s president), see significant potential for the building in its proposed location, possibly to be used as a visitor’s center for the village.

“We really want to turn this into a public use building,� he explained. “It could be a venue for art shows and we could work with the historical society to put railroad memorabilia up on the wall [the Harlem Valley Rail Trail sits on a railroad bed]. We could have a rotating exhibition of historical sites in the village. There’s a lot that could be done with a building like that.�

The Rail Trail property is owned by the state and operated and maintained by the county, and a contract would have to be written giving permission to relocate the building onto state property. McLaughlin said that the state and county would have to sit down and take a look at the unique proposal. Seeing that the agency is currently trying to address potential budget cuts, a decision might not come as quickly as Friends of a Irondale Schoolhouse might like. But the state is interested in seeing a historic building like the schoolhouse put to good use, she said.

“It’s an important building and it’s important that it be preserved,� she said over the phone earlier this week. “The decision is whether that’s the best and most appropriate place for it.�

If the agreement with the state is approved, Fedele said, the not-for-profit would then sign an option agreement with Rosini. That contract stipulates that Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse group will have 18 months to come up with the building’s purchase price of almost $30,000. But Fedele reported that nearly $20,000 has already been raised. Once the group has state approval, he said he expects more donations to come in.

Two months ago, Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse was officially designated a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, meaning any donations are tax deductible. With donations from more than 25 individuals and local foundations so far, Fedele said there is plenty of support to keep the project going.

Marketing and public relations will also kick into effect once the option agreement is signed, in a big push to get the area excited about the move. Fedele mentioned the idea of a ground-breaking ceremony and celebration that could take place soon, and if Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse has its way, the community will be hearing a lot more about the historic building in the near future.

Donations to assist with the costs of relocating the Irondale Schoolhouse to the center of Millerton can be sent to: Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse, PO Box 876, Millerton, NY 12546. Fedele can be reached at 518-789-4619.