SHERBURNE – As anyone who has driven past The Sherburne Inn in the last month has noticed, progress on this historic building — purchased by Save The Sherburne Inn Restoration Project, Inc. (SSIRP) in April of 2013 — is most certainly (and at last) being made.

Exterior work on the building began on July 13 under the supervision of general contractors Rich and Gardner, and architect Randy Crawford of Crawford and Stearns. Phase one will include brick pointing and general masonry, window restoration, porch deck and porch roof work, trim painting, and column restoration.

“We couldn’t be happier with the headway being made so far,” SSIRP President Kathleen Yasas said this week. “The north-side add-on porch roof, not part of the original construction, is gone; the porch decks are being rebuilt; trim color has been selected; historic columns have been stripped and are awaiting paint; windows are undergoing restoration; and brickwork has begun. We started with an abandoned structure full of birds and broken windows, and now have a building in the process of returning to being a focal point – and a social center – for the village.”

She added, “Both Randy Crawford and Rich and Gardner are doing a fantastic job. We’re on schedule, and expect Phase one to conclude on time, sometime in December.”

What’s next? “We need to make our matches,” Yasas said. “Not only do we have the $25,000 NBT grant to match, but we also have to match the $500,000 New York State economic development grant. That grant will take us to inside restoration.”