Picture this: the thermometer is reaching the upper nineties, you are at your day job putting in honest work, and a call alerts you of an active barn fire on one of the busiest roads in the county. While it would be a perfect day to rest by a pool somewhere and get an ice cold treat, oath-driven firefighters from nearly two dozen departments gathered in sweltering heat with one job to do – put out the fire.

And what a job it was on Thursday of last week. Not only was the heat dizzying with the sun still strong overhead, the structure they were racing to save is as historic as the tales told of the legendary Yasgur Farm, home to theWoodstock Music and Art Festival of 1969, which since has been renamed as the Russell Dairy Farm. Although the flames took enough to make the structure nearly unsalvageable, its spirited story defined by communal effort and passion was on full display for one last showing.

The fire reportedly started with overheated machinery. Most importantly, it is a great blessing that no person was injured, either firefighter or otherwise. A building can be replaced, no matter its history – life cannot. 

So, on behalf of the fascinating history of the barn and the community that relies on your fearlessness in the face of flames, thank you to each and every firefighter who raised their hands to help. Due to your credit, the fire was contained and put out through great community effort. It is through your actions we continue to see only the best from Sullivan County’s bravest.

As the ash settles on this new era, we hope that the barn that acted as a landmark for local and national history on Route 17B can one day find a new tale to spin. Like so many cities and structures of note that were once lost to fire, reconstruction is possible. Whether that is a new building in its stead or in memory, flames do not have to mark the end. 

For more on the fire and the efforts of countless volunteers, please see pages 1A, 4A and 7A.