To the Editor:

The thing that makes big old barns attractive is the vast open space and timber-frame construction. They are like vernacular cathedrals on the landscape.

The Hilton Barn, at 60 feet by 120 feet, is probably the largest timber-frame barn in Albany County. Why do so many people want to cut this vast space up into retail? [“With public funding gone, Hilton barn project drags on,” The Altamont Enterprise, April 20, 2026]

In my opinion, the only thing that needs to be done to this barn is to put a floor in the unfinished half, preferably a wood floor. That large open space could be used for farmers’ markets, art shows, weddings, etc. It would be a space for the community to use and enjoy as needed. 

Chris Albright

New Scotland