Fans of The Silo in New Milford will be pleased to know the historic property will soon be opening its doors to the public once again. Alessandro Piovezahn and two others have taken over the Hunt Hill Farm, Inc. non-profit organization and its property at 44 Upland Road. Going forward, the site will be referred to as The Henderson Center for Excellence for Youth Empowerment at The Silo, to honor the original owners, and will offer many of the same programs it did in the past, in addition to new ones. 

Until its closing last summer due to revenue issues, Hunt Hill offered space to showcase art, presented cooking classes, held open mic nights and concerts and operated a gift shop. Piovezahn and the other directors intend to create a board of advisors comprised of local community members, businesses and collaborators to help identify the key elements necessary to transform Hunt Hill Farm into a “local paradise” for the community.

Lyle Russell Cedric “Skitch” Henderson and his wife, Ruth, purchased the property in 1968. Four years later, the couple established The Silo, a well-known store, cooking school and art gallery. In 2003, the Hendersons established the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, a 501(c)(3), in order to preserve their farm’s rich history, land and buildings, and celebrate the arts in America through the creation of a living museum. The museum, which became affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute in 2005, eventually will be re-opened to showcase some of the artifacts that were saved or have been reacquired. Some of the earliest buildings at Hunt Hill Farm date back to before the Revolutionary War. 

The Silo will be home to educational experiences for both children and adults. It will serve as a venue for improvisational theater, arts and technology programs and serve as a gathering space for the community. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, activities have been put on hold due to stay-at-home and social distancing orders. Open-air activities for children and adults including arts, music and sports programs, and open air open-mic and music jams for local artists are being discussed.

Piovezahn said Hunt Hill Farm will file for the United Nations Observer Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This would enable Hunt Hill Farm Trust to collaborate with other organizations around the globe through the UN network of accredited NGOs.

Location: 44 Upland Rd, New Milford.