The Gillett Tobacco Barn is Soon to be in Pieces

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By Justine Judge

Story Published: Oct 30, 2009 at 8:31 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 30, 2009 at 8:31 PM EDT

Southwick residents will not see the old Gillett Cigar Factory be rolled down College Highway in one piece. Instead, the Historical Society is taking it apart, piece by piece.

CVS has approvals to build a new pharmacy at the intersection of College Highway and Vining Hill Road, but the timber frame structure of the old factory is in the way.

Built in 1871, it is believed to be the last example of once numerous factories where workers hand rolled locally grown tobacco into cigars. Last year, the Historical Society convinced town resident the factory was worth saving and obtained $300,000 in community preservation funds to restore it.

It is not happening the way anyone expected. The barn was supposed to be hauled intact to another site owned by the Historical Society. However Society President Linda Wonson said there is not time to secure the permits to move the factory in one piece.

"So we've chose to save the structure by way of dismantle it and then we'll erect it again the spring time," Wonson said.

Once dismantled, the barn will make a one mile journey down College Highway to its final destination. That destination will be a field next to the Moore House, home of Southwick's Historical Society. Once restored it will be used as a museum.

"We picture a barn, a bank barn on our property with a walk out basement on the back with a patio that overlooks open fields that are now preserved for farms so it should be a beautiful opportunity," Wonson said.

The Historical Society plans to have the factory torn down by thanksgiving and have a barn raising in the Spring.

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