Residents Unite to Save Historic Building

In December the Building Department inspected Ossining’s Campwoods Auditorium. During the routine inspection the Ossining Camp Meeting Association found out that two of the piers that support the building need to be replaced. OCMA had already been working to return the Auditorium to its former glory, but the additional pier repair work is turning out to be a huge project in both scope and cost. “We realized that we were not able to handle it on our own. We needed some help. Especially if we wanted to stay true to the architectural structure and the historical relevance of the building—and that we might need to look outside our own community for help, said OCMA President Beylka Krupp. Stickers that state the structure is not habitable have been placed on the building until its structural issues are corrected.

OCMA has reached out to Preservation Architect Lisa Easton and New York State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer for help. “Lisa is going to help provide the expertise of how to go about fixing up this building. She’s going to bring in people pro bono to do the analysis—the architectural survey of the building in the next couple of months… so that the building can be saved, “ said State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer’s Chief of Staff Steve Otis.

The Auditorium is a grand structure surrounded by the historic homes of Ossining’s Campwoods Grounds. The area used to be a Methodist campsite that was set up back in 1831. Families started the community by pitching tents. The residents attended Sunday services and bible study. Eventually the tents were replaced by homes. Today 45 families call the Campwoods area home.

OCMA is exploring all options so it can raise the necessary funds to restore the Auditorium. Those options include grants, low interest or no interest loans as well as donations.

If you would like to help OCMA financially in their efforts to restore the Auditorium, send an email to FriendsofCampwoodsAuditorium@gmail.com.

OCMA’s 2011 Vespers Series Tent Revival continues this Sunday and next Sunday. On June 12 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a performance by artist Jaime Rickert. On June 19 at 6:30 p.m. OCMA will hold their Annual Father’s Day Service. For more information you can visit CampwoodsGrounds.com.