Thorne Building now owned by nonprofit

MILLBROOK — The village of Millbrook officially transferred ownership of the Thorne Building to the non-profit 501(C)3 Thorne Building Community Center (TBCC); the legal step was taken following a unanimous vote at the Tuesday, Oct. 13, Village Board meeting.  

In January 2017, a group of citizens had the idea to do something constructive with the building after years of sitting vacant. There were two impediments: The reversion clause, which only allowed the building to be used for educational purposes or else its ownership would revert from the village back to the Thorne family; and the fact that the building was in a residential zone. 

The final step was taken when the village approved a resolution, with input from the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, to create the Thorne Building Overlay District (TBOD), thus allowing the building to be used as a community center despite it being in a residential district. 

The Village Board discussed the issue at length; a public hearing was held before it voted. The hope is the Thorne Building Community Center will be a community center not just for Millbrook, but for residents throughout central Dutchess County. This could help bring traffic to local businesses, shops and restaurants, and bring new life to the village.

Since the original community meetings began in fall of 2017, the Thorne Building Committee and most of the residents of the village of Millbrook and town of Washington have had ideas about what should be offered at the center, from educational classes to events for senior citizens to programs for children and theatrical events. Most residents are elated that the historical building will be put to good use, and again be a vital part of the community instead of a vacant piece of property that could end up in ruin, like the old Bennett College.

Chairman of the Board of the TBCC Oakleigh Thorne III expressed his delight in a recent press release.

“The creation of the zoning overlay district allows us to continue our excellent progress in making the Thorne Building Community Center a reality,” he stated.

The village has seen to the maintenance of the building and property over the years, and while it was not in use much after the 1960s, when it ceased to operate as a school, it has always remained a focal point of village life, being next to the Band Shell and the VFW Post, as well as very near to Lyall Federated Church.

The building was a gift to Millbrook from the Thorne family in 1895, designated for educational use only, and it was the reason that Millbrook became an incorporated as a village. Many village residents graduated from high school there, and more recently it has opened on occasion for people to take a closer look at the building and its potential uses.

In May of 2020, the Thorne Building Committee, consisting of Charles Pierce, Ann Gifford, Thorne, George Whalen III and others, announced that architect Michael Sloan had been retained to do the renovation. Some of the ideas suggested from committee members as well as from public meetings include possibly creating a new Band Shell, classrooms, technology space and room to accommodate cultural and entertainment events. A small café, a kitchen for catering and/or space for lessons might also be included. The plans are exciting and innovative.

While there is no specific time line for the project to be completed, some of the work that was to be done during the summer was delayed due to the COVID pandemic and other factors. 

Much of the hard work is just now beginning, not just the construction, but the fundraising necessary to make the community center a reality, fulfilling a need for year-round cultural and arts programs in the village.

In May, Pierce stated, “We hope that everyone will have the opportunity to give at a level that is comfortable for them.” 

More information about the building, its history and how to donate can be found at www.thornebuilding.org.