Hilltop Farm Friends Hold Fire Escape Dedication

After more than 1,000 hours of labor and the help of over 60 volunteers, the Friends of the Farm at Hilltop (FOFAH) held a dedication ceremony on Saturday for their recently completed fire escape on the farm's 1914 dairy barn, moving the project one step closer to being open to the public.

The fire escape on the 1914 dairy barn, which cost approximately $80,000, was a necessary step to meeting public safety regulations, according to FOFAH President Tom Wardell.

The conceptual work for the project began in 2008, with plans becoming available the following year and construction beginning in 2010 and just finishing recently, Wardell said.

“We knew we were going to have to do something to get people into the barn,” said Janet Banks, a board member of FOFAH. “But we never knew how much.”

Banks said the project could never have been done without the generous donations from The 1772 Foundation, United Way of North Central Connecticut, as well as AT&T, Carol Childs Memorial Fund, Friends of Suffield Inc. and other private donors. FOFAH was able to gain $30,000 through fundraising events.

The fire escape was the first step. Next, FOFAH has to install a fire suppression system. They hope to get started on the next phase sometime this year, Wardell said.

“Once these two major features are in place that paves the way for public access to the building,” Wardell said.

Ray Wilcox, vice president of FOFAH, said construction on the fire escape took roughly a year with the help of more than 60 volunteers from Suffield and Agawam, who worked more than 1,500 hours.

Aiming to embrace what Suffield has to offer, Wilcox said the wood used to build the fire escape was oak that came from Suffield and was milled to their specifications.

“Without that kind of help we would have never been able to get this together,” Wilcox said during the dedication ceremony. “This is a beautiful structure and everyone in the general public should be able to enjoy it like we have enjoyed it.”

Wardell, Wilcox and Karen Jarmoc, from United Way of North Central Connecticut, cut the ribbon at the ceremony. The United Way donated $10,000 to the project.

FOFAH Inc. was founded in 2002 with the goal of making this historical barn accessible to the public. Part of the project involves bringing the farm buildings up to safety regulations. They hope to be able to create a venue for people to connect with the land and nurture their curiosity.

The 20,000-square-foot barn and adjacent 250 acres of land are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company co-founder George M. Hendee owned the farm from 1914 until 1940.

“I am hoping in 2014 we will be celebrating the 100-year anniversary in some sort,” Wardell said.