Save Plattsburgh's historic Old Stone Barracks

09/19/2017

Doesn't get much better than this! Big congrats to Valcour Brewing Company on this award for their work to preserve the Old Stone Barracks, a local and national treasure. A very well deserved bit of recognition.

11/01/2016

A beautiful segment by Mountain Lake PBS about the Old Stone Barracks and the amazing amount of progress over the past year. Well done.

05/10/2016

A wonderful post today from our friends at the Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY); a fascinating connection between Plattsburgh Barracks and one of the most famous Confederate Generals of the Civil War; "Stonewall" Jackson. Enjoy!

Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! On this date in 1863, famed Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson, better known as "Stonewall" Jackson, died of wounds received at the Civil War Battle of Chancellorsville. In this amazing photograph, taken after the War, women clad in black can be seen mourning at his grave in Virginia. But did you know there's a Plattsburgh connection to this story?? Jackson was a career military man long before the War, graduating from West Point in 1846, and spent six weeks at Plattsburgh Barracks in the Spring of 1850. He wrote the following letter to his sister while here:

Plattsburg Barracks N.Y.

May 10th 1850

My Dear Sister,
You observe that I am now on the border of Canada, it is for the purpose of trying some prisoners. My health is still improving and in a short time I expect to return home to Fort Hamilton. In coming to this place I have passed some charming scenery. This place is on the Western bank of Lake Champlain. I should like very much to visit Montreal and Quebec before returning South, but want of time and money will prevent it. On my way here I saw the old Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. And in front of this Garrison, was fought the great Naval action of the late war.

Remember me kindly to Mr. A and Family.

Your brother, Thomas

13 years to the day after writing this letter, Jackson died of the wounds he had received at Chancellorsville. His last words were "Let us cross over the river...and rest under the shade of the trees..." Visit the very site that Jackson called home with us on "The Ghosts of the Old Post," our lantern-lit guided ghost tour of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, ranked as one of the top ten "Haunted Boats, Bases, and Battlefields" by Military Times! Details at: https://www.facebook.com/GhostandTourCo/events

04/22/2016

Can we say "mission accomplished?" :) :) :)

The Old Stone Barracks on Ohio Avenue in Plattsburgh, NY was built during a decade that saw second-term President Andrew Jackson retire the national debt, the Alamo fall under siege and the Underground Railroad take hold. Originally designed as housing for an expanding U.S. Army, stonework began on…

01/15/2016

Shared from our sister page, the Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY). The amount of work and effort that has gone into saving the Barracks over the course of the last year is an incredible feat. Everyone involved should be so proud of their efforts, it's been incredible to watch unfold.

Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! A beautiful photograph of Plattsburgh's iconic "Old Stone Barracks" (right) and accompanying Officer's Quarters (left), likely taken sometime in the 1880s. The Officer's Quarters was demolished by the Military during the winter of 1963, leaving the Stone Barracks as the oldest surviving structure on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and a prominent feature on our popular "Ghosts of the Old Post" guided tours. As many of you may know, after nearly 50 years of disuse and decades of neglect, the former Army Barracks was purchased back in 2014 as the new home of the "Valcour Brewing Company." Plans called for the restoration of the 178 year old structure as a craft brewery, including a tasting room, restaurant, meeting place, and inn! We are pleased to announce today that following months of careful renovations, portions of this spectacular building have been lovingly restored and are now ready to welcome the public! Valcour Brewing Company will open the doors of their tasting room at the Old Stone Barracks tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., allowing guests to get their first sample of the brews they'll be offering. It's likely the old soldiers who still call the place home won't mind, as long as they get to share in some of the liquid refreshment. We'll certainly look forward to joining them.

02/10/2015

If you're interested in the fascinating heritage of "Old Plattsburgh" (Which the Old Stone Barracks is a part of), be sure to check out this new page...

Explore historic Plattsburgh, New York, and discover the "Old Plattsburgh" of the 19th and early 20th Century through vintage photographs and memorabilia.

02/02/2015

A great video segment today by local 22 / 44 news about the continuing progress at the Barracks! Wonderful to see :)

The 15-barrel brewery will include a tasting room, light fare kitchen, country store, guestrooms and an upstairs lounge and conference center.

12/17/2014

Today's Old Stone Barracks progress report from Valcour Brewing Company! They currently have 10 windows exposed on the backside of the building, emerging from behind their plywood coverings for the first time in at least 20 years! We're happy to report that (aside from spiders and wasp nests) the windows are in great shape. Many of them were serviced and repaired by contractors when the Barracks was sealed up for the last time, just prior to the Base closure in 1995. What a beautiful sight to see them finally revealed!

12/16/2014

A rare photograph from our friends over at the Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY) showing the Barracks and the 1840 Officer's Quarters around 1917...Awesome!

Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! New from our archives, a stunning photograph of Plattsburgh's iconic "Old Stone Barracks" (right) and accompanying Officer's Quarters (left), taken around 1917. Built in 1838, the Stone Barracks is the oldest surviving structure on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and features prominently on our popular "Ghosts of the Old Post" guided tours. After nearly 50 years of disuse and decades of neglect, we are pleased to announce that new life is presently being breathed into this amazing structure. The former Army barracks has recently been purchased as the new home of the Valcour Brewing Company, who plans to restore it as a brewery for their craft beer, a tasting room, and eventually, a restaurant, meeting place, and inn! It's likely the old soldiers who still call the place home won't mind, as long as they get to share in some of the liquid refreshment. We'll certainly look forward to joining them.

12/15/2014

More progress at the Old Stone Barracks!!! Nothing like a celebratory toast as work and renovations get underway! This space, occupying the far eastern side of the building (downstairs), will be utilized as the tasting room for the new brewery. In the 1870s, it was used as the Post Hospital, serving as a kitchen and ward for patients. We're sure if there's any lingering spirits about, they'll be happy to lift a glass as well. Cheers to the Valcour Brewing Company!

12/12/2014

Our friends over at the Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY) are having a Christmas sale on gift passes for their 2015 tours! These guys do an amazing job and their tours are highly recommended! A great gift idea or stocking stuffer!

CHRISTMAS SALE!!! Looking for that perfect holiday stocking stuffer for friends and family? Treat them to a spooky, lantern-lit evening with us, the Greater Adirondack Ghost & Tour Company!! Gift passes for our Spring-Summer-Fall 2015 season tours are available through PAYPAL at the link below and come shipped right to your door!! Buy now and save $2.50 off adult tickets, good for any tour we offer! Each ticket features a creepy, authentic 1880's coffin advertisement from our collection...PLEASE SHARE!!!

Purchase tickets here:
http://ghostandtourco.tumblr.com/post/36436341237/buy-tour-tickets-here

12/12/2014

Progress at the Old Stone Barracks! Two of the Barracks' windows were uncovered yesterday, emerging from behind their plywood coverings for the first time in at least 20 years. Amazing to see this transformation start to take place...