The Cobleskill Fairgrounds escaped Hurricane Irene.
But not Lee.
And with repairs there expected to go as high as $100,000-or even twice that-directors are calling on their friends to turn out for an October 1-2 Work Weekend.
The event will run from 9-3 both days and anyone with any skills-whether it's banging a hammer are invited asked to stop by.
Doug Cater, president of the Fair board and himself a victim of Irene, said stations will be set up in Progressland and volunteers will be able to pick and choose where they want to help.
"Even if it's just an hour or two, we'll appreciate it," Mr. Cater said. "The place is a mess, but 50 people or 100 or 200 can accomplish a lot in a couple of days."
Volunteers will get lunch and there's no need to register; just show up.
For the first days post-Irene, the Fairgrounds served as Command Central for hundreds of volunteers, the National Guard, and Schoharie County offices.
Mr. Cater said he even had a call from State Ag & Markets, asking if they could house displaced livestock.
"I said we could, but with the barns so close to the Cobleskill Creek, it might not be the best idea," he said.
And he turned out to be right.
Lee flooded the Fairgrounds and Command Central was evacuated to the Cobleskill Fire House.
Almost every building there suffered damage, Mr. Cater said.
Though structurally the new horse arena is fine, the footing was destroyed and will probably need to be scraped out and replaced.
Footing on the racetrack was also destroyed.
The pavers in the newly-renovated Hall of Agriculture all had water beneath them and will have to be replaced and there's a three-foot deep hole on one side of the building.
The dairy, show, 4-H and sheep barns all have some damage to their flooring-though all can be repaired; the plank flooring in all of the horse barns was also damaged by the water and much of it will have to be pulled and replaced.
There was water in the Fair office, Mr. Cater said, as well as in the Historic Treasures and Better Living buildings as well as damage to blacktopping and paving.
"Pretty much the only place spared were the grandstand and 4-H building," he said, though the water marks under the grandstand show how close the Fair's new carriage collection came to being soaked.
Even Progressland-where Command Central was housed-took on water.
"You drive by and see the debris on the fence and think that's it," Mr. Cater said. "But it's not. Not by a longshot."
Mr. Cater said only one of the buildings had flood insurance on it; much as people are saying everywhere else, they never expected the rest of the grounds to flood.
Volunteers on October 1-2 should dress appropriately and bring gloves and boots as well as shovels and rakes if available.