The Sherburne Inn Hits The Airwaves
Click image for video; scroll to 11 minutes, 27 seconds.
On Wednesday, May 1, a crew from Mohawk Valley Living took a tour through The Inn in preparation for a feature on SSIRP’s project. SSIRP board members met with producer Sharry Whitney and host Richard Enders, while a cameraman filmed interior and exterior shots of the building. Our own Rose Tenney, SSIRP Board Secretary, was interviewed for the piece which aired on Sunday, May 5, on WFXV 33, as well as WUTR.
Mohawk Valley Living is a weekly television show that explores the arts, entertainment, culture, and heritage of the greater Mohawk Valley region of New York State. It is broadcast 3 times a week on Utica’s NBC affiliate, WKTV. It is owned and produced by Lance and Sharry Whitney and is hosted by actor and playwright, Richard Enders.
Thank you to Mohawk Valley Living for covering “good news” news!
Breaking News! It’s Official!!
The Sherburne Inn is Ours!!!
As of Thursday, April 25, 2013, The Sherburne Inn Is Ours!!! Today
SSIRP closed on the purchase of The Inn, which will be brought back to
this remarkable community of people who have donated time, money, and
effort in saving it. Our next steps will be to move forward with
continued fundraising in Sherburne and in the surrounding communities,
and to reach out to corporations, family foundations, grants, and
individuals from around the country who have shown interest in this
project. We need help from everyone to restore and reopen this historic
property, and to make it better than it ever was before.
In the coming weeks SSIRP will call on volunteers and others, and will
begin the planning, restoration, and renovation process. We ask for
your patience as work kicks off.
This will be a long road, but the first huge step has been taken:
ownership of a building that means so much to this village, and to its
anchor corner.
THANK YOU to everyone who has donated funds up to this point. It is not
an understatement to say that your contributions have enabled us to buy
the building. Without the donations received so far, purchase would not
have been possible. Please do what you can to donate time and services
– as well as funding — and share this post with all of your social
networking and other contacts. Our reach needs to be far and wide in
letting people know that historic buildings can be saved if citizens
band together to make it happen.
Our journey has begun. Join us!
To donate to Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project, send your tax
deductible donation to:
SSIRP
POB 1163
Sherburne, NY 13460
OR click the “Contribute” link above to pay securely by credit card.
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SSIRP’s efforts have caught the attention of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Please visit the link below to see our story, published on the Preservation Nation blog.
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SSIRP is pleased to announce that we have received approval of our 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. Our nonprofit status qualifies SSIRP to accept tax deductible contributions to the organization.
Our application, which was submitted in late January, was approved on February 27, 2013. We were advised by our financial consultants that approval could take from three to six months; SSIRP is delighted that the application was in fact approved in less than 30 days.
Donations received on or after SSIRP’s incorporation date of January 16 are deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Our sincere thanks to those of you who have donated thus far, and thanks in advance to those whose future donations will help us turn the lights back on in downtown Sherburne!
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SSIRP Reaches Goal, Moves Forward To Closing!
The Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project (SSIRP) has reached its goal in raising the purchase price for acquiring The Sherburne Inn, and will now proceed to closing.
“We’re very grateful to owner Jim Webb for giving citizens of this community the opportunity to save and restore the building,” Kathleen Yasas, President of SSIRP, said. “Our goal from the beginning was to do the right thing for Sherburne in preserving Sherburne’s anchor corner. We realize hard work is ahead in raising funds for restoration and renovation. Our board members and volunteers are ready to roll up their sleeves and, with the help of the community and other patrons, feel confident we can turn the lights back on in downtown Sherburne.”
Plans for the restored Inn include a restaurant, two bars, guest rooms, and event space as well as other amenities such as a gift shop, fitness center, and bakery.
“The SSIRP board extends its heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who have offered to help and who have been contributing to this project since October, and especially to those who have donated funds to help us make this first important step,” Ms. Yasas said. “We look forward to working with the residents of Sherburne and our village leaders on this exciting community project.”
On Monday, February 25, Jim Webb said, “I couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and I really look forward to seeing the Inn flourish again.” Mr. Webb added that he is happy to extend the first right of refusal on the adjacent former Big M property to SSIRP.
To donate to Saving The Inn, please make your check payable to Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project and mail to POB 1102, Sherburne, NY 13460, or pay by credit card on this site by clicking the “contribute” link.
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Mark your calendars! Gilligan’s Island of Sherburne will be hosting a fundraiser for our Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project (SSIRP) on Monday, March 4. Andy Lagoe of Gilligan’s reached out to SSIRP said he and brother Mike, owners of Gilligan’s, want to become part of this exciting community project.
When making dinner plans on Monday, March 4, please consider stopping by Gilligan’s between 4:00-8:00 p.m., and mention to your server that you’re in support of saving The Inn. Andy reports that Gilligan’s will donate 20% of any food purchased from 4-8, including ice cream, to SSIRP.
Thanks to Andy and Mike, who like so many others
in Sherburne know what small towns are all about!
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The Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project was formed because we, the concerned citizens of Sherburne, believe in both the future of this historic building and of our community. We do not want to revisit the past; rather, we hope to preserve history while moving forward economically. This is what small towns are all about…neighbors coming together doing what they can in however small or large ways, and bringing about meaningful change that will affect the lifeblood of our village for generations.
My mother, Norene Salsbury Bigelow, wrote the following description of her early memories of Sherburne and The Sherburne Inn. Her husband was Wilbur D. Bigelow, who with his brother, Oren, owned Bigelow’s Pharmacy (now Service Pharmacy) for many years. Their father, Orrin O. Bigelow preceded them in ownership. My mother is now 97 years old and enjoying life living near my sister, Jill Curley, in State College, PA. Jack Bigelow
Here is what she wrote:
“Before Sherburne, the Salsbury Family lived on a small farm near the communities of Fulton and Oswego, New York. To earn more money, my father (John Salsbury) took a job at a G.L.F. Feed Store in Fulton. He was offered the job of managing the G.L.F. Feed Store (which later became Agway) in a small town called Sherburne. To us, Sherburne seemed to be a place far, far, away. We asked ourselves, “How can we leave our little farm?”
It took a bit of time for us to feel comfortable in this strange town. However, the feed store was quite near the Sherburne Inn, and right in the center part of this small town. Farmers came to town to the feed store to get feed for their animals, seed for sowing, or to get their hair cuts at the Sherburne Inn. Maybe a drink was in the plan and surely, crossing the street to the bank or going to the Post Office caused farmers to admire the beautiful flowers gracing the front of the Inn.
The Sherburne Inn was a popular place for local people to congregate for special events, including birthdays and wedding parties. For some people, it was their home: Dr. Robert Benedict earned money chauffering an elderly lady from The Inn to her former home on a regular schedule.
Being a sophomore in Sherburne High School, I began thinking of how I could help to earn money to go to college. I became a waitress at the Sherburne Inn while in High School and each summer during my college years. I fondly remember the owner, Mr. Colton. People came from long distances to eat a meal at The Inn, and we waitresses watched for the big tippers! New waitresses were taught how to carry the big aluminum oval trays laden with delicious foods. Just opening the swinging doors into the kitchen brought the scents of pies, soups, and entrees being prepared. We waitresses were very happy when the requests were made to eat on the glassed-in porch. We hoped that we would be their waitress!
Behind The Inn, there was a hatchery or some other business that was involved in the raising of chickens. And having The Inn near the railroad station was another attraction for travelers.
Norene Salsbury Bigelow
The song couldn’t be more perfect!
Count me INN
I like to see a meeting to be called and we decide on what needs to be done and HOW we go about it……Barber Wayne ( West State Barber – Shop)
Let’s do this ! ! One step at a time……Barber Wayne