“The greenest building is the one that is already built.” – Carl Elefante, Preservationist

Westport’s National Register of Historic Places-listed Cornell Cooperative Extension Building is at risk of demolition in the face of an Essex County plan to replace it with a new structure. Working with the FRIENDS OF THE ESSEX FAIRGROUNDS, local friends and preservationists, farmers, and other stakeholders, Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) vigorously opposes the destruction of this significant and storied piece of Westport’s heritage, one of the more important and defining structures within the Essex County Fairgrounds.

Why is this a bad plan?
     • It destroys a prominent, character-defining, National Register-listed building.
     • The new building proposed is more expensive than rehabilitating the historic building.
     • The new building proposed is smaller in size than the existing historic building.
     • The new building does not add to the character or attractiveness of the Fairgrounds.

Friends of Essex County Fairgrounds and AARCH worked with renowned preservation architecture firm, Crawford & Stearns, to produce a report with rehabilitation cost estimates of $1.8 million. Essex County claims rehabilitation will come to $2.3 million, in justification of the building's demolition.

Rehabilitation is not only the most cost-effective and greenest option, it will provide more space for less cost, removing the carbon and landfill waste created by both demolition and new construction, and offer a more community-centered, heritage-rich space for Westport and Essex County youth.

The County has received federal funds that could be used for the existing building's rehabilitation or new construction. Because the building is on the National Register, federal funds used for any part of a project involving demolition will have to undergo a review in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The CCE building’s potential for restoration and further use proves that there are feasible and prudent alternatives to its demolition.

Historically known as the Westport Junior Achievement building, Ticonderoga native and philanthropist Horace A. Moses funded the construction of this wonderful Colonial Revival agricultural building, designed by noted Adirondack architect Max Westhoff in 1923 and completed in August 1924. Its unique architectural style not only matched nearby agricultural buildings at the National Register-listed Essex County Fairgrounds, but also reflected the optimism and aspirational vision of a prosperous and sustainable future in Westport and the Champlain Valley more broadly.

We believe this building still has life and inspiration to give! Please leave your signature below to support the reuse of Westport’s historic Cornell Cooperative Extension building.

To express additional support for preservation of the CCE Building, write to or contact any or all of Essex County's Supervisors:

Essex County Board of Supervisors
Shaun Gilliland, Chairman
P.O. Box 217
Elizabethtown, New York 12932
supervisor@townofwillsborony.gov
(518) 873-3350 | Fax: (518) 873-3356

Chesterfield: Clayton Barber  townofchesterfield@gmail.com
Crown Point: Charles Harrington  supervisor@townofcrownpointny.gov
Elizabethtown: Noel H. Merrihew III  etown@etownny.com
Essex: Ken Hughes  supervisor@townofessexny.gov
Jay: Matthew Stanley  supervisor@townofjayny.gov
Keene: Joe Pete Wilson  supervisor1@townofkeeneny.gov
Lewis: James W. Monty supervisor@lewistownhall.com
Minerva: Stephen R. McNally  supervisor@townofminervany.gov
Moriah: Thomas R. Scozzafava  supervisor@townofmoriahny.gov
Newcomb: Mr. Robin DeLoria  supervisor@newcombny.com
North Elba: Derek Doty  super@northelba.org
North Hudson: Stephanie DeZalia  supervisor@townofnorthhudsonny.gov
St. Armand: Davina Winemiller  davinastarmand@gmail.com
Schroon: Margaret C. Wood  supervisor@schroon.net
Ticonderoga: Mark A. Wright  supervisor@townofticonderoga.org
Westport: Michael K. Tyler  supervisor@westportny.net
Willsboro: Shaun Gillilland  supervisor@townofwillsborony.gov
Wilmington: Roy Holzer  townsupervisor@townofwilmington.org