Gray skies and steady rain didn’t dampen spirits Thursday as Pittsford Village Farm celebrated a major milestone in the restoration of its historic farmhouse with a ribbon cutting.

After a year of construction, the 8,500-square-foot farmhouse now includes two occupied affordable apartments, an early childhood education program operated by the Rutland County Parent Child Center, and retail space occupied by Small Town Nutrition. 

The childcare space was also dedicated Thursday as “Breda’s Place,” in memory of Breda Harnish, a longtime Pittsford resident and community leader who died 13 years ago. Her husband, Bob Harnish, told the crowd that Breda had spent much of her life nurturing and mentoring young people.

“Breda was just so good at nurturing young people and believing in the power of early childhood education,” Harnish said. “I know Breda would be thrilled to have this named after her.”

The slideshow below offers a look at Thursday’s ribbon-cutting celebration and some of the new spaces inside the renovated farmhouse.

Pittsford Village Farm Board Chair Lorrie Byrom, a historian, noted that the renovation is only the latest reinvention of a building that has served Pittsford for more than two centuries.

“This building has responded to changing historical moments in our town for over 200 years,” Byrom said. “Town citizens and individuals have stepped up generation after generation to define and redefine its purposes.”

The farmhouse’s latest transformation began in 2017, when Baird and Betsy Morgan purchased the 150-acre property with the goal of preserving it for the Pittsford community. A nonprofit formed the following year, and community meetings helped shape plans to use the farmhouse for childcare, housing, retail, and community gathering space. As construction costs rose, the project was divided into two phases, with the planned community center moved to a future second phase.

Ben Doyle, president of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, recalled touring the building early in the planning process and privately wondering whether the ambitious project could be pulled off.

On Thursday, he described its completion as “an act of reckless optimism” and “an act of love.”

“It shows people what’s possible with vision and collaboration and people believing in places,” Doyle said.

For more on the story behind the farmhouse restoration and what the new spaces will bring to Pittsford, read recent coverage from VTDigger and Vermont Public.