5 ½ years after village hall and library burned down, Barker celebrates opening of new site

Photos by Tom Rivers

Former Barker Mayor Aaron Nellist, center left, and Mayor Seanna Corwin-Bradley cut the ribbon on Friday for Barker’s new village hall and public library at 8708 Main St. Barker firefighters are at left holding one end of the ribbon.

Barker celebrated the new building which opened 5 ½ years after the village hall and public library burned down on Jan. 20, 2019.

Mayor Seanna Corwin-Bradley thanked village residents for their patience the past 5 ½ years. She said many community members stepped up to assist the village and library since the fire.

“Everyone you see here has put their heart and soul into this,” Corwin-Bradley said about the new building.

The mayor said some estimates had the new building at $4 million. The Village Board scaled back the project five times so there wouldn’t be any additional tax burden on village property owners. Barker didn’t take out a bond to finance the project, she said.

About 75 people attended the grand opening celebration outside the new village hall and library. The building opened to the public on June 3, and Friday was the grand opening celebration.

The building was constructed in a pole barn style. It added about 700 more square feet compared to the previous structure. Village officials said the project cost about $1.2 million with insurance and state grants covering the cost.

The public checks out the new building and enjoys snacks and cake in the main meeting room. The village moved the village offices inside in late May and opened for business in the new site on June 3.

The main meeting room includes a custom vinyl image of a train and train station. The former building that was the village hall and library was originally a train station. The vinyl was done by JBR Grafx of Churchville, based on historical photos of Barker.

The new library is more wide open with less partitioned space. The library will add more interior decorations. The library space is 10 feet longer with the new building.

“This is much brighter and more open,” said Kathie Smith, president of the Barker Public Library.

The shelves are on wheels and can be moved for programs, Smith said.

Cathie Smith, president of the library board, said community members donated to help the library recover from the fire. The Nioga library system and other libraries also were instrumental in helping the Barker Public Library, Smith said.

After the fire the library set up in a small building on Church Street that was a ceramic shop.

“We were up and running in a week,” Smith said.

She is grateful to have the new space that is designed to be a library to serve the community.

Aaron Nellist, the mayor during the fire and the first four years after, recalled coming to the scene the night of Jan. 20, 2019, and seeing 12-foot flames shooting from the building.

“It was a feeling of helplessness,” he said.

But the village staff was determined to quickly get the village hall and library reopened for the community. Nellist and Corwin-Bradley both praised Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Detschner seeing the village for the challenges.

The village office shifted to the space at the Barker Police Station at 1697 East Ave., and the village office began operate during usual business hours on Jan. 22, 2019. Nellist praised Detschner for her ability to get the office set up so quickly.

“I don’t think the general public will ever appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into it,” Nellist said.

The process to build the new village hall and library has been both “exhausting” and rewarding,” he said.

This sign hung on the previous building and it is one of the few artifacts to survive from the blaze on Jan. 20, 2019. The sign was saved by members of the Barker Fire Department. There is a small hole in the sign almost in line with the smokestack.

The sign now hangs in the main meeting room of the new village hall.

State Sen. Robert Ortt said the Barker community rallied after suffering the loss of the village hall and library.

Assemblyman Mike Norris also commended the Barker village officials and staff and the Barker Public Library for pushing to get the new building done.

“This shows the character of the community,” Norris said. “Everyone comes together. You could have buried your head in the sand, but you chose to do something and move forward. That is a testament to the Village of Barker.”