Rowing Club moves into Carpenter’s Barn
Barn will house club until long-term tenant is found
The Cazenovia Rowing Club has found a temporary home in Carpenter’s Barn, at 1 Forman St. The historic building was most recently home to the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and has been unoccupied since last March, when CAVAC moved to their new location on Route 20.
The Carpenter’s Barn Committee, formed to find a use for the now-vacant building, is actively seeking a permanent tenant, but is very happy to be hosting the rowing club in the meantime.
“Right now the village is very open to all suggested uses,” said Amy Mann, committee member and village trustee. “The Carpenter’s Barn Committee is looking for a potential long term use. We would like to see a community-oriented entity here… this is a great beginning.”
The Cazenovia Rowing Club moved into the facility in early January and officially opened to members on Jan. 11. Their temporary location is a welcomed change, as the club formerly operated from Gypsy Bay Park on the south shore of Cazenovia Lake and stored their rowing shells at various locations.
Rooms that once housed CAVAC’s dispatch center are now filled with ergometers and weight lifting equipment. The large garage that was once used to store emergency vehicles will soon be converted into the club’s boathouse.
Approximately 80 members currently populate the rowing club and President Bill Carroll hopes to increase membership in the future.
“We have a really great group of people here. Everyone on the board is very active, as well as parents of the kids that row in the club, they like to get involved and help out,” Carroll said, “There are a lot of great opportunities for students to receive scholarships, if they have rowing experience.”
The club includes members of varying ages, offering a “scholastic” division for the school-aged participants and a “masters” group for the adult members. With the new location, all members are able to train regularly.
Carpenter’s Barn was built in 1889, when it was originally constructed as a carriage house for the Carpenter family’s estate. CAVAC began using the building as their headquarters in 1974 and would operate there for the next 35 years. The suggested cost of repair prompted the volunteer corps to build a new facility, opening the space for new inhabitants.
A $250,000 federal Special Improvement Project grant the Carpenter’s Barn Committee has received will help with necessary renovations, as the building is structurally sound but the exterior is in need of repair. In addition, the committee is applying for an additional grant, to assist with interior restoration, hoping to refurbish the historic building to its original state.
The Cazenovia Rowing Club plans to remain in Carpenter’s Barn through March. A “Learn to Row” course will be offered on Mar. 5 for high school students. Those interested in participating will have an opportunity to sign up at a booth athe Winterfest Talent Show. For more information about the club, contact [email protected]
