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Seven to Save
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Hop
Kilns of Central New York
New York’s upstate “hop belt” boasts a number of wooden and stone kilns which were used to process and dry hops, an important ingredient in beer brewing. Central New York led the country in hop farming in the nineteenth century, harvesting up to 80 million pounds annually at the peak of production by 1880. The hop houses that are most easily recognized are those with a pyramid style or conical shape roof, signifying the kiln. “Hop cultivation was once a major economic and cultural force in New York State, and the fortunes of farmers, merchants, seasonal workers and entire communities rested on this one crop,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State. “The hop kiln, integral to the drying and processing of the hops for market, is one of the few physical features remaining on the landscape to remind New Yorkers of ‘when hop was king’ – in the words of James Fenimore Cooper.” New York’s hop kilns are rapidly disappearing. Since they no longer serve their original function, many stand empty, are not maintained and are increasingly vulnerable to weather damage. According to Cornell University Professor Michael Tomlan, author of Tinged With Gold: Hop Culture in the United States, “of the tens of thousands of kilns built, many are no longer recognizable as such due to alterations.” Others have been demolished or simply allowed to deteriorate. Professor Tomlan notes that there may be no more than 300 hop kilns remaining in the state. Madison County may once have had some 100 hop houses, but today only 35 remain standing and 5 are in danger of collapse. An equal number may remain in Otsego County, while Schoharie and Oneida Counties may have only a dozen kilns each. Without intervention, this important element of New York’s architectural and agricultural history may be lost forever. In addition to the kilns themselves, small but prosperous farmsteads, grand village homes, and commercial buildings all resulted from the growing, processing and selling of hops. “It is extremely important that our remaining kilns are preserved so that present and future generations will understand the role that hops played in New York’s development,” said Sydney Loftus, Executive Director of the Madison County Historical Society. “This Seven to Save listing will help ensure that people can experience the remarkable legacy – nearly 160 years of production and economic impact – that is one of our state’s proudest agricultural achievements.” According to Tania Werbizky, director of technical and grant programs for the Preservation League, the listing furthers the League’s efforts to boost heritage tourism as an adjunct to agriculture in New York’s rural areas. “There has never been a more opportune time to recognize the historic importance of hop growing to our state and the hop kilns that are the authentic and distinctive monuments to this legacy. The recognition and preservation of kilns could be an important heritage component to the recently-established I Love New York Beer Trail. What better place to make the links between hop history, breweries past and present and beautiful rural scenery than in Central New York?” The Preservation League is calling on local and state organizations and agencies to work together on strategies to identify, document, stabilize and preserve our remaining hop kilns. “There are already promising beginnings, especially in Madison County and Otsego County,” said DiLorenzo. “The work of the Madison County Historical Society and the New York State Legislature will provide important resources for encouraging an appreciation of hop resources. The League is pledging its assistance to ensure that this tangible legacy of New York’s agricultural history can endure.” Since 1999, publicity surrounding the Seven to Save designation has led to the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church in Albany; the rehabilitation of the Oswego City Public Library, the adaptive re-use of the former Niagara Falls High School as a cultural and arts center, and prevented the demolition of the Conger Goodyear House on Long Island. The Preservation League of New York State, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. From its headquarters in Albany, it provides a unified voice for historic preservation. By leading a statewide movement and sharing information and expertise, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize the Empire State’s neighborhoods and communities. ###
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 last revised March 25, 2002 Preservation League of New York State |
