In the spring of 2008 various members of the town, Berryville Main Street, and the art community were eager to spur discussion about economic development in Berryville.
The group looked at art in the form of visual as well as music and dance and ways that these could have a role in driving economic development in Berryville and at the same time help to drive tourism throughout Clarke County. An area that seemed to be doing just that was Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
This group met with people involved with the“Ice House" and those that played a part in some of the economic development in that town. The Ice House is an adaptive reuse project located in the heart of Berkeley Spring’s downtown historic district. It houses a small theater, art gallery, office and gift shop that sells art and handmade crafts by local artists. The endeavor, though still evolving, is attracting tourist and local dollars as well as adding another “reason why” someone might want to visit Berkeley Springs.
The group thought the Ice House offered a model worth considering as we explored ideas for promoting new business growth in Berryville.
At the same time this discussion was taking place, the town was preparing to move its current office to the new government center. The building they were vacating – 23 East Main Street -- had a venerable history, operating as the Jack Enders Fire House from the 1930’s to 1958. It was a livery stable in a still earlier incarnation.
Wheels began to spin....
Could the Fire House be re-imagined as the Ice House had been in Berkeley Springs -- adding an art gallery and shop to Berryville’s retail line-up? And, more significantly…
Could Berryville Main Street play a central role in its creation -- not merely identifying and supporting others who would do the work – but literally taking on the challenge of bringing this new enterprise to life?
This undertaking would require Main Street to move its office from Church Street and retrofitting the space to accommodate multiple uses. This would be a huge undertaking for this teeny, woefully undercapitalized not-for-profit. But the advantages were obvious and many, including:
- New retail operation to increase local traffic in downtown Berryville
- Repurposing of an historic structure to foster economic growth
- Creating two destinations on everyone’s wish list for drawing tourists
- Helping foster a cultural “golden triangle” at this end of town to include Barns of Rose Hill, Clarke County Historical Association Museum, and the Fire House Gallery and Shop.
- Adding another “reason why” to visit Berryville