Historic Barn Where MLK Once Worked Torn Down In Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — The historic property in town where Martin Luther King Jr. worked while in college had one of its barns torn down last weekend due to safety concerns.

In October 2021, Simsbury voters said "yes" to acquiring a former tobacco farm known as Meadowood.
When the iconic civil rights figure was in college, he worked a summer there on the tobacco farm in the 1940s
The farm is comprised of 288 acres on Firetown and Hoskins roads.

Town officials Monday said they had to tear down one of the barns on the site because it had become unstable and unsafe.

"Since the town acquired the property known as Meadowood in 2021, we have been working with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to plan for the preservation of some of the historic barns on the property," wrote the Town of Simsbury.

"Following an evaluation of the barns, it was determined that the barn on the Barndoor Hills triangle was unsalvageable and posed a safety risk."

As a result, it came down Monday.

The remaining barns, located on Firetown Road and Hoskins Road, were temporarily stabilized in 2021.

Further stabilization efforts are anticipated for the remaining barns. Evaluation and engineering design services were funded by two SHPO grants.

Additional funding for permanent preservation is anticipated through grants and donations through TPL and SHPO.

Simsbury has been working in partnership with TPL and SHPO to secure funding for permanent restoration of those barns that can be preserved.

From March 9: 'Vote For Simsbury's Meadowood Property In National Contest'

For the Town of Simsbury's Facebook Page, click on this link.