About Us: Origins and Operation of the Barn

The Brigham Hill Community Barn is owned by Crater-Ferraro Realty, LLC, and is operated by Yesod Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit charitable foundation, which maintains the facility for charitable, civic and educational purposes.

The barn was built to enhance and preserve the interpersonal connections which make our community work. Starting in 2001, an advisory council worked with the principals of Crater-Ferraro Realty, LLC to conceive a facility that could meet a broad range of the venue needs for local organizations, while also supporting the work of the surrounding farm. This advisory council included:

• Kenneth C. Crater
  Board President, Worcester County Food Bank
• Mary Flynn
  President, Grafton Historical Society
• Marian Hazzard
  Teacher, Touchstone Community School
• Jean McMurray
  Executive Director, Worcester County Food Bank
• Dr. Clark Nicklow
  Executive Director, Food For The Needy, Inc.
• Christopher Noonan
  President, Preservation Services, Inc.
• Dr. Lester Tobias
  Psychologist, Nordli Wilson Associates
• Richard Zajchowski
  Head, Touchstone Community School

From 2001 to 2002, the barn was constructed by R.H. White Construction, with design services provided by Dixon Salo Architects, and timber framing engineered and fabricated by Vermont Timber Works. For an illustrated narrative of the barn's construction, see our Construction Story page.

Upon completion, the barn became the headquarters of two nonprofit organizations - Community Harvest Project and Grafton Land Trust. In 2007, the owners donated a conservation restriction on the surrounding farm to the Grafton Land Trust, ensuring that the property will be forever protected from development.