2010 Annual Meeting
Come to Chester County for this year’s Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of PA’s annual meeting and historic barn tour. This is a two-day event scheduled for June 18th and 19th, beginning with a special evening touring an historic barn, the Abiah Taylor barn, owned by HBFF of PA member John Milner, AIA, a renowned historic preservation architect. This tour, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., will be followed by a delicious barbeque dinner in a scrumptious location, the historic Georgia Farm (listed on the national register as the Carter Worth house and farm) located on the Stroud Preserve of the Natural Lands Trust, near West Chester As we enjoy dessert, we will be treated to a program by HBFF of PA director Robert Ensminger who will share his findings on the migration of the Pennsylvania barn and reflect on his research that has taken him across the Atlantic Ocean on the historic trail of these wonderful barns’ origins. HBFF will hold its annual business meeting and election of directors, and close out the evening discussing the history of the Georgia Farm which is on the National Register.
Saturday will be devoted to touring five historic barns in southern Chester County, along with lunch at the London Grove Friends Meeting House and visiting the Penn oak tree. Saturday’s schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at approximately 3 p.m.
Reservations are required to participate in either or in both days’ events. CLICK HERE to download a registration form. Registrations and payments must be received before June 1, 2010. Saturday’s tour will be limited based on available seating so register early to save a place on the bus. Please mail registration form and payment to HBFF of PA, c/o Sheila Miller, President, 80 Witman Road, Womelsdorf, PA 19567. Agendas, directions and motel information will be provided to those who register for the tour.
Hello H.B.F.F of PA.,
I have been a member of the Foundation and as such have received your Very Nicely made Newsletter. I have a Question: I live in East Bradford township with a West Chester address, as a “Local Chester County” person and HBFF member(plan to renew too)….will it be possible for me to Drive locally rather than use the BUS Tour for the SATURDAY Barn Tour?? Now, I haven’t worked out any ‘logics’ for this, i.e. payment for ‘priviledge’
of doing this! I will look for your reply on this and thanks,
Mary Whittam
copeland sch. rd.
w. chester, pa.
Mary,
In order to participate in Saturday’s barn tour, you will have to ride the bus. We cannot have a caravan following along behind for numerous reasons. It will be a lovely day and a great opportunity to fellowship with other barn enthusiasts.
Sheila Miller
President
Sheila,
This is off topic of the 2010 Annual tour, but I was wondering if you knew of any of the barn owners who would be willing to “rent” out any of their barns for weddings. I’m getting married next November and I’m having trouble finding any information on barns that are empty, or who’s owners would approve, in the Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Lancaster areas. I’m not looking for a barn that has been restored for this purpose, I am looking for one that is still rustic and in it’s original condition. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much, and I hope this is an appropriate way to contact you.
-Stacey
Dear Historic Barn and Farm Foundation: We are restoring our approx 200 year old barn at the James Miller House (the house is c. 1731) at 121 New Garden Road, Avondale, PA 19311, Chester County. The work is being done by Wesley Sessa of 18th Century Restorations. We would be very appreciative for you to stop by and visit and to offer your opinion with the selection of roof and paint colors. We want to reflect the barn’s history and also use energy conservation/green technology. The roof is planned to be Drexmet standing seam metal. We anticipate putting solar panels on a portion of the roof in the next several years. We want to have a light colored roof and I’m trying to decide between white (I think it may look too stark)and a metallic color like Drexlume, Falzinc, silver, pre-weathered Galvalume or Antique patina. We’d also be interested in attending any events, and are disappointed we missed the earlier events this year. Thanks so much! Marian Young
Hi Sheila, I would like to ask you a question about my barn. I don’t know who else to ask. We have lived on our property for 22 years now and I have always loved my barn. It has a corner stone which reads: “P.O. Derr June the 10th 1852. It is in great shape, we just put 11,000.00 into the foundation because the bank wall (it is a bank barn) was caving in. Usually they jack up the barn and remove the wall and replace it with cinder block. I would have none of that and made them replace the stone wall after they put in the cinderblock retainer wall. Through the years we have replaced some of the wood on the sides and put in new doors. I have been trying to find out what the P.O. means. I looked up Derr and apparently they were some of the first settlers of Moreland Township, in Lycoming, and I have the deeds that go back to the early 1800′s on the property but can find no positive information on the barn. I thought the P.O. would be initials of the builder, but the only person who would fit those initials is Philip O. Derr and I can’t find any information on him. Do you have any idea of where I can go from here to find out more information on my barn? Thank you so much for your help
Pat Sanguedolce
honibunn@gmail.com
567-4483
Pat,
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Our website has been undergoing some changes and I have not been as vigilant in checking for messages. I will share your inquiry with the other Board members of HBFF of PA and we will try to give you some direction.
Sheila Miller, President
Stacy,
I do not know of any barn owners who “rent” out their barns for weddings if that is not part of their agri-entertainment plans on the farm. Nevertheless, there may be some who will be interested in doing this one time. Farmers may be reluctant due to liability, size of wedding party and guests, and many other factors. I will share your inquiry with Historic Gettysburg Adams County. Since I have been remiss in responding earlier, you may have already locked in your wedding location. Best wishes for a wonderful future and a beautiful wedding.
Sheila Miller