Irondale Schoolhouse restoration moves to next step

MILLERTON — The proposed restoration and relocation of the old Irondale Schoolhouse, first reported by The Millerton News in June, is proceeding.

The North East Historical Society (NEHS) voted during a meeting on Nov. 11 to work toward creating a new not-for-profit organization that will own the building and be responsible for all restoration and relocation costs, as well as general upkeep, once the building has settled into its new location. There have been talks of a steering committee that will oversee the whole project, but an official list of those involved has not been worked out yet.

The building has been sitting on the east side of Route 22, just north of the village center, since 1858, when it was constructed. Ralph Fedele, president of the historical society, gave The Millerton News a tour of the property and a look inside the building. Fedele didn’t have an exact date, but said it is probable that the last time the building was used as a classroom was in the 1930s.

“More recently it’s been used for furniture storage,� he said. “And cabinetmakers and woodworkers have also rented it out for work space.�

The schoolhouse is owned by Floyd Rosini, who purchased it from the Brunese family roughly 20 years ago. Much of the original construction has been preserved.

“All the interior woodwork is original,� Fedele said. “The blackboards are still intact, the chalk rails are still here. The floors have all been preserved. It still has the original lath and plaster walls. This is the only remaining schoolhouse in the area that can be saved and put to public use.�

“I think [the move] would be great for the community,� said Scott Rosini, Floyd’s son and owner of Rosini Antiques, which is on the same property as the schoolhouse. “Being where it is now, it’s been neglected. Although my father was very careful about its preservation, it’s just been sitting there and hasn’t been taken care of.�

The schoolhouse earned its name for the numerous iron mines and pits in the area.

“The whole area was called Irondale,� Fedele explains. “There were about seven schoolhouses in the area, and this one handled a maximum of 40 students. John Quinn’s book [“Memories of a Country Schoolhouse,� which was honored during September’s Indian Rock Schoolhouse anniversary celebration] mentions this very building.�

The plans for the building include a complete restoration as well as moving the entire building next to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in the center of the village.

“Dismantling the schoolhouse into six to eight parts proved to be the least expensive way to do it,� Fedele said. “But the first thing we have to do is get the money.�

Rosini has agreed to sell the building for $29,900. A 15 percent nonrefundable deposit will be paid up front, and then the new not-for-profit organization will have 18 months to come up with the balance.

In total, Fedele has budgeted the project at about $135,000, but he said there are two phases for the project and only a portion of that money would be needed up front to get the project started.

The first phase is purchasing the building ($29,900), moving it ($35,000) and performing basic repairs (foundation at $8,000, plumbing at $12,000 and roof repair at $17,000), for a total of $101,900.

“We’ve already received an anonymous donation to match up to $100,000 in funds, and I think we’ll see much more support for the project in the future,� Fedele said.

A transparent account is currently set up to receive donations, and if the total cost of the building ($29,900) is not met within the 18 months, then all the money is guaranteed to be returned to the donors.

“We’ve had commitments from local craftsmen on either a cost-only basis or in some cases even pro bono. The county and state are aware of the project. I’ve talked with Mayor [John] Scutieri and the Millerton Village Board as well as town Supervisor Dave Sherman. I’ve spoken with Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus, State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro and Senator Vincent Leibell and they’ve all given me their support for the cause.�

Townscape President Cathy Fenn also endorsed the project.

“Townscape cares about historic preservation and doesn’t want to see the building go by the wayside,� she said. “Ideally, with historic preservation you would want to keep the building in its original location, but it’s just not practical where it is now. If it could be moved and used for other purposes for the community’s benefit, that would be great.�

“Once it was restored I think it would be a great place to hold events and possibly even rent out the space for parties,� Fedele said. “Local organizations could hold meetings there. There are a lot of possibilities and if we could find an income stream for the house, that would be great as well. The Irondale Schoolhouse should be preserved for the village above all else.�

Two engineers, Bob Balkind and Don Bartles, were given a tour of the schoolhouse as well as the proposed location, which lies directly adjacent to the Millerton head of the rail trail. Fedele reported that both were very positive about the project.

“We’re hoping to complete the move of the school by September 2009,� he said, acknowledging that the project is still very much in the beginning stages and nothing is set in stone. “I think it would be great to coincide with the town’s quadricentennial celebration.�

Fundraising is the next big step for the “Save the Irondale Schoolhouse� campaign. Fedele said that the next NEHS meeting will cover how to generate publicity. The historical society will not own the schoolhouse, but will help procure funding along the way.

“We’re acting as a facilitator,� Fedele explained. “We’re trying to help the process along.

“We need to start reaching out to people who can help fund the program,� he said. He also said the original potbelly stove used in the schoolhouse has been found, and the owner has donated it to NEHS for the Irondale schoolhouse.

The North East Historical Society can be reached at 518-789-4619. Anyone with an interest in the project on any level is encouraged to call.