Campaign For Plattsburgh’s Old Stone Barracks Launched

Last week, following the announcement that the Old Stone Barracks in Plattsburgh was named to the Preservation League of New York State’s “Seven to Save” list, The Friends of the Old Stone Barracks announced that it has launched a campaign to purchase the property from its private owner.

Constructed in 1838, this is the oldest building at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. For practically as long as there has been a military presence in Plattsburgh, the Old Stone Barracks has been a central part of the region’s military history and it has come to symbolize this long and proud military tradition. Following the sale of the Barracks to Bernard Schneider, a Canadian developer, The Friends of the Old Stone Barracks was formed to explore available options to save the Barracks from inappropriate development.

“We are thrilled to announce that the Friends has just come to terms with Mr. Schneider to purchase the property,” Marty Mannix, Vice President of the Friends announced on August 5th. “We are also today kicking off a capital campaign to raise $225,000 by December 1^st to purchase and stabilize the property.” The agreement comes after two and one-half years of quiet negotiations, supported by Adirondack Architectural Heritage.

Jerry Bates, President of the Friends of the Old Stone Barracks acknowledged that “Having the support from the Preservation League and receiving the Seven to Save designation gives the Friends the confidence and additional resources needed to move forward in our effort to save the Old Stone Barracks.”

The Friends of the Old Stone Barracks is dedicated to securing the highest and best use of Plattsburgh’s Old Stone Barracks by obtaining and preserving the property, engaging the community, and ensuring the appropriate adaptive reuse of the barracks.

The Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and operates with substantial support from Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the private non-profit, historic preservation organization for the Adirondack Park. For more information or to make a contribution, visit www.oldstonebarracks.org.