Congratulations - it’s a barn!
I love the sense of history out here. And it’s more than just the relative ages of the big trees, the smooth rocks under the soil telling us the river once rolled across the meadow, or the salt water pockets of a prehistoric inland sea just a few hundred feet below the surface; there are some living snapshots of bygone days out here.
Perhaps my favorite is this beautiful old barn:
The State Archeologist (did you know they had those? I didn’t know they had those) here in Washington estimates this barn was built between 1905 and 1910.
He also noted that it was built from a combination of round and dimensional timbers, signaling a shift in the way these agricultural buildings were put together just after the turn of the century.
It’s an extremely romantic and rustic structure, with a ton of character and a really dazzling hayloft.
But candidly, it’s in somewhat rough shape.
Inside and out…
With a little luck, that will all change before long.
You see, earlier this year I submitted an application to the Washington State Dept. of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (remember them from earlier in the post?) for this barn to receive protection and historical status through the Heritage Barn Registry program.
This program also provides prospective access to grant funds for preservation and…yes…restoration.
Last Friday (July 22nd), the Historic Preservation board met to review Heritage Barn applications and I’m very happy to report that my application was unanimously approved! This historic structure was added to the registry, and now I’m watching the mail for my certificate.
The next window for grant applications won’t open until sometime in 2023, but this workhorse beauty has already waited well over a hundred years for some tender, loving care.
I believe she can hold out just a little longer.