News

Cuba Barn Brought Back to Former Glory

Sitting just south of the village of Cuba is one of the most impressive barns in the state. Built from 1907-1909, the McKinney Stables is two stories high, 347 feet long, and 50 feet wide. While a barn the size of a football field is impressive, what makes this barn unique is that, with the exception of its doors, windows, louvers, and stairs, the entire building is of concrete block, poured concrete, and terra cotta.

Built by William Simpson to house his famous trotter, "McKinney," the barn was designed by John Coxhead, a prominent Buffalo architect. The barn is rumored to have cost $200,000, but Simpson had lost several of McKinney's colts in an earlier barn fire and didn't intend to run such a risk again. Farm-related journals of the time touted concrete block as a fireproof material and probably inspired Simpson's design.

The barn had several owners after Simpson, but then stood vacant. Proposed uses, a mall and an ostrich farm, never materialized. The current owners of the barn, Tom Coundit and Bonnie Blair-Coundit, are using the barn for its original purpose--to house their horses.

The Coundits purchased the barn in 1996, much to the delight of local residents, and have been actively restoring it--a daunting process. The terra cotta roof leaks, there are drainage problems, and previous owners made several unsympathetic alterations. The barn's special qualities have challenged the owners to find qualified restoration specialists. But the Coundits have made good progress: most of the roof repairs are done, the louvers on the ventilation shafts and the large end doors are repaired, and the owners hope to have most of the major restoration work done by the millennium.

The restoration has been a labor of love for the Coundits. Bonnie grew up in the area and learned to ride at the barn. With the help of local craftspeople, she and Tom have done much of the restoration themselves. They are also reviving the farm's original logo and name, "Empire City Farms". The barn is open only for special events, but if you're in Allegany County, just driving by is worth the trip.

Guest author Nancy Blumenstalk Mingus, an historic preservation consultant is Vice-Chair of the Town of Amherst Historic Preservation Commission. She is preparing the McKinney Stables National Register nomination.

Barn Resources

The Traditional Timberframers Research and Advisory Group is offering a professional symposium on March 12-14, 1999 at Wells College, Aurora, NY. Timberframe repair philosophies and methods will be the program focus. Contact: Sharon Crier at (360) 733-4001.

National barn preservation efforts were presented at the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference in Savannah. Ed Franquemont, Executive Director of Historic Ithaca, described New York’s Historic Barns Tax Credit program and offered ideas for its improvement. To order an audio tape, (N56), call (972) 484-8273, ext. 114; $12 with shipping.

© 2008 New York State Barn Coalition