Undermountain Farm nonprofit could receive nearly $190,000 toward restoration project

By Clarence Fanto, Berkshire Eagle

LENOX — HomeFarm Undermountain is poised to receive $189,750 for restoration of the farm's 1902 three-level stables and dairy barn.

The funding, which would be a major boost for the historical preservation project, has been recommended by the town's Community Preservation Committee. Voters at May's annual town meeting will decide whether to accept the funds.

HomeFarm's capital campaign already has raised nearly nearly $186,000 in pledges from 57 donors, with $81,000 directed at the barn project, said Lori Pestana, executive director and co-founder of the nonprofit formed last spring to save Undermountain Farm from bankruptcy and possible subdivision development.

The renovation of the 14,000-square-foot barn is the centerpiece and first $670,000 phase of a $1.5 million plan to preserve the farm complex and its viewscape at 400 Undermountain Road. It’s about a mile west of downtown Lenox.

The HomeFarm board and advisory council welcomed the funding recommendation.

“Their action shows that it recognizes the support HomeFarm has already gotten from the community,” said board President Gary Knisely. “Its endorsement helps us to garner the continuing support that will be needed to complete the preservation of our historic buildings and the views that they command.”

But CPC member Fred Keator sounded a note of caution, urging an effort to find other sources of financial support “and not have the town carry such weight for all these projects, because that allows us to help a lot more people over time.”

“We support this project, but there’s a lot of these things that happen in town all the time,” he said. “It’s an old historic town. Since CPA passed in 2008, this committee has always tried to be ‘angel investors,’ a little bit of money to help leverage a larger pool of other resources elsewhere.”

“In this case, we have a very unique asset here and they’re doing a good job raising money,” said Olga Weiss, a CPC member.

Last October, the 95-acre Gilded Age landmark was gifted by the Sprague Family Trust to HomeFarm at Undermountain Inc., relieving the property of a $315,000 debt to a Sprague family memberand $125,000 in unpaid taxes and fees owed to the town. It is now debt free and ready to look to the future thanks to $455,000 in donations since April.

The nonprofit has embarked on a capital campaign to raise $1 million by the end of this year for a thorough revamp of the property intended as a historical, cultural and recreational destination.

Undermountain Farm has been an equestrian facility for nearly 50 years. Programming is expected to include equine therapy.

Day-to-day operations are now self-sustaining. The restoration project would reposition the farm as a public educational and cultural attraction as well as studio space for local artists and writers. Another possibility would be farm-experience tourism, accommodating visitors on several of the existing six apartments.

The estate-farm was built for Henry and Eustace Jaques 120 years ago and expanded in the 1950s with a large horse barn, riding arena and tenant cottage.

"We want to make this a place where people can come with their kids, get close to and involved with animals and understand agriculture," Knisely has emphasized.