And while the production of modern-day abrasives and quarrying remains the Barton Group's core business, its drive to establish the Adirondack Wind Energy Park on the site of a former garnet mine on the north side of Gore Mountain in the Town of Johnsburg has garnered a lot of attention lately. Vision asked the Barton Group Chairman Charles Bracken, Jr.: Why expand Barton into the energy business?

"We need to constantly evaluate our operating environment and find better ways to serve the interests of our shareholders, customers, employees, and community. The wind resource we have on Gore Mountain can potentially provide clean renewable energy to not only Barton but also to the North Creek and Warren County area.

Electricity costs represent a large component of the total cost of the garnet abrasives produced at our operations near North Creek. The recent increases in the cost of electricity impact our ability to compete against foreign garnet producers. Adirondack Wind Energy Park (www.adirondackwind.com) represents both a potential hedge against future electricity cost increases and a commitment to being a good corporate citizen by addressing the energy and environmental challenges faced by everyone. By developing our former mine site, with its unique attributes, into a source of clean sustainable energy, everyone wins."

Barton has also attracted local headlines for their purchase of 2 Warren Street in downtown Glens Falls. We asked the chairman: What attracted Barton to that particular property?

"We had been searching for a location that would support our current needs and future growth for over two years. Barton is an advocate of the revitalization efforts for the city and looks forward to being able to contribute to these efforts by preserving a landmark building.

While several downtown buildings were seriously considered, Two Warren Street best suited our needs. This building, which was constructed in the same era as the founding of Barton over 128 years ago, is also an interesting cultural fit. Barton has evolved over its long history into a modern international company while preserving its rich cultural history. Two Warren Street, following the renovation of its interior spaces, will have evolved into a modern building on the inside while maintaining its historic exterior facade."

Reports indicate the move will bring in 30 new jobs: Are these additional jobs for the company? Please describe what activities take place at the Barton headquarters and indicate what kind of new jobs will be added.
"Barton will move approximately 30 existing jobs, with current employees, downtown when we initially occupy the building. We expect this number to grow after we complete the move and have additional space available to add new employees. We anticipate that number to approach 35 by the end of the year. The corporate headquarters houses the administrative, finance, sales, logistics, customer service, and information technology functions. While the entire business is growing, specific new positions are expected to be created in customer service, logistics, and finance."

Finally, what else is on the horizon for Barton?
"Over the next couple of years, we will be investing millions of dollars in capital improvements at our North Creek garnet operations to increase our capacity and reduce costs. We are also exploring new ventures that would utilize the by-product minerals from our garnet mine. These efforts will strengthen our business and have a very positive impact on the regional economy."