July 10, 2012

Concord Historical Society - Restoring Old Barns Program

On Tuesday July 10, 7 pm, the Concord Historical Society will offer a program on barn preservation. Wooden barns are an important cultural resource in the rural landscape of Wisconsin, and unfortunately our old barns are disappearing on a daily basis. Historically Wisconsin farm families, in their humble barns, elevated the agricultural status of our state to be the “Great Dairy State.” Innovators in Jefferson County also played a significant role in national dairy and agricultural education. Our remaining historic barns are part of this important local heritage. Earlier barn construction represented yet another facet of Wisconsin’s agricultural history. Bill and Cindy Arbiture of the Concord Historical Society will discuss the challenges that they have faced repairing the two circa 1900 wooden barns on their property. Their barns are currently under restoration. Budget and planning will be discussed and informational materials about barn repair and barn contractors will be available. Additional discussion will follow on how to help others to preserve their historic barns and farm outbuildings. Guests are encouraged to bring photos of their buildings to discuss the unique problems that their barn or outbuildings have. Barn owners, barn repair specialists, and barn enthusiasts are welcome to attend. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit the Concord Historical Society.

August 7, 2010

Green County Heritage Barn Tour and Conference

Please join fellow barn enthusiasts as we trace the ancestry of the cantilevered forebay barn back to Switzerland through a 9-location simulcast bringing together barns of this type throughout the world. This simulcast kicks off a daylong conference and bus tour of heritage barns throughout Green County. Complete information and a registration form can be found at:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/green/

April 24, 2010

Wisconsin Barns, Touchstones to the Past

A special viewing of Tom Laughlin's video “Wisconsin Barns, Touchstones to the Past” will kick off the Second Annual History conference sponsored by the Jefferson County Historic Site Preservation Commission in Fort Atkinson. Barn preservationists Greg Van Valin and Craig Roost will also be on hand to address "How to Start your Restoration" project.

Registration Flyer (PDF file, 44 kb)

August 22, 2009

Barn Raising

Roadway construction near Jefferson created the need to relocate a barn built in 1888 to a site just north of Edgerton. On Saturday, August 22 you’re invited to witness the reconstruction of this historic barn during an old fashion barn raising. Volunteers will be enlisting a team of draft horses and using a gin-pole for lifting many of the support timbers. This is a free event beginning at 8 a.m. More information about this event and directions can be found using the links below:

Background Information (PDF file, 64 kb)
Promotional Flyer (PDF file, 88 kb)

Link to Facebook Event Page

June 28, 2009

Chase Stone Barn Park Fundraiser

This fundraiser will benefit the restoration of the Chase Stone Barn (one of the few remaining stone barns in the state) as well as the construction of an adjacent park. Activities include free hay wagon rides through the stone barn, an antique tractor show, petting zoo, prizes, lots of food and fireworks.

Time: 3:00 p.m. until midnight.
Location: Chase Town Hall, 8481 County Road S, Pulaski, WI

More information can be found at: www.townofchase.org

June 20, 2009

Hands-On Tuck Pointing Demonstration

Schuster’s Playtime Farm hosts Jacob Arndt, master stone cutter, who will be teaching a class on the art of tuck pointing using the foundation on the Schuster’s 106 year old round barn. Space is limited to the first 25 participants to register by emailing: chuck.law@uwex.edu. Proceeds from this event will be donated to support barn preservation activities in Wisconsin.

Time: 8:30 a.m. – noon (tuck pointing practice in the afternoon) Location: Schuster’s Playtime Farm, 1326 Hwy. 12 & 18, Deerfield, WI 53531 http://schustersplaytimefarm.com/

May 14-16, 2009

Save the Dates!

National Barn Alliance Southern Conference
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

For more information, visit:

www.kycrossroadsregion.com
www.barnalliance.org

March 28, 2009

Free Historic Planning Presentation

The Chase Stone Barn Committee will be giving a free presentation called: "Site Planning and Master Planning for Historic Properties." Chase Town Hall, 8481 Cty Rd S, Pulaski, WI. Free lunch at 12:30, presentation at 1:00. Presenters are James Hayward and Don Kraft. Both men worked for Heritage Hill Historical Park and will be using this park as one of their examples in their PowerPoint presentation.

RSVP's are greatly appreciated. For more information, visit: www.townofchase.org

or download: www.uwex.edu/lgc/barns/FreePresentation.pdf
( PDF file, 324 kb)

December 4, 2008

Western Wisconsin Public Scenic Seminar

Chuck Law, UW-Extension's coordinator of the Wisconsin Barn Preservation Program, will be presenting an overview of the program, its purpose, history and intent during the December 4, 2008 Western Wisconsin Public Scenic Seminar being coordinated by UW-Extension in concert with Citizens for a Scenic Wisconsin. Use this link to view and print a program brochure and registration form ( PDF file, 521 kb).

Chuck Law Featured by National Barn Alliance

Chuck Law, UW-Extension's coordinator of the Wisconsin Barn Preservation Program was the featured Board member in the latest newsletter published by the National Barn Alliance (see: www.barnalliance.org).

August-September 2008

Art in the Barn

Art in the Barn exemplifies adaptive use in a successfully restored Wisconsin barn with music and art events featured throughout the year.  Hosted in Anne and Bill Conzemius’ beautifully restored 1870’s barn, these events allow visitors to experience the barn in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

August 22 & 23, 2008 – Gypsy Swing Festival
This festival features various music artists for two nights of entertainment in a wonderfully adapted old barn.

September 13, 2008 - Country Cornucopia
Sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio and emceed by Tom Martin-Erickson of Simply Folk, this event fea–tures music and storytelling from Nelson Graham for an evening of pure musical entertainment. For more information about these and upcoming events, please visit the Art in the Barn website.

June 16 to July 25, 2008

Cultural Landscapes in Wisconsin and Door County

This event, hosted by The Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, will take place at the Francis Hardy Gallery in downtown Ephraim, WI at 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2008, and will feature keynote speaker Professor Arnold R. Alanen from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who will give an illustrated presentation, "Cultural Landscapes in Wisconsin and Door County."

The discussion is a program coordinated in conjunction with the FHCA's newest exhibit, "The Glories of the Door County Rural Landscape," opening on September 6, 2008. The exhibit will take viewers on an engaging and thought-provoking visual journey to explore Door County's rural landscapes through the eyes of fine art photographer Paul Lurie.

In addition, leading experts in the fields of land use planning, historic landscape preservation, agriculture and Door County itself will join Alanen to celebrate and discuss the future of Door County's dwindling rural landscape.

Featured speakers also include Dean Volenberg, MaraLee Olson, and Hugh Mulliken.

FOR UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ALUMNI ONLY.

Wisconsin's Natural and Cultural Landscapes - A Sense of Place

Get an in-depth look at Wisconsin's natural and cultural landscapes, from its distinctive red barns to the state's golden prairies and crystal lakes, Wisconsin has a unique landscape to learn about and explore. This six-week "online" course, led by William H. Tishler, emeritus professor of landscape architecture, requires an internet connection and an e-mail address.

Register online or contact Ellen Clarke toll free at (888) 947-2586 or EllenClarke@uwalumni.com. Deadline is May 30th.

Rural Heritage Conference

Through its association with the National Barn Alliance, the Wisconsin Barn Preservation Program promotes similar activities and programming in nearby states. One such event, being coordinated by the Illinois Barn Alliance is coming up on June 13 and 14, includes a tour and educational program. More information including an agenda and registration form can be found at:

http://www.willcountylanduse.com/ilbarnalliance.htm

An Architecture of Decency: Rural Studio

A lecture followed by a question and answer session will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Mineral Point with proceeds going toward the Mineral Point Opera House Fund. More information including a press kid can be found at:

Rural Studio Architecture

Door Peninsula & Lake to Lake Scenic Seminar

Citizens for a Scenic Wisconsin (CSW) hosts its first Public Scenic Seminar at 6:00 in the evening at the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor. The seminar details the basic tools for controlling blight and promoting beautification. CSW's goal is to empower people to help preserve and protect scenic Wisconsin for generations of economic, social, and environmental health.

For more details, please see: Scenic Seminar

April 12 to July 12, 2008

Between Fences

Between Fences is an exhibition designed by the Smithsonian Institution specifically for small, rural communities. The exhibition explores themes of boundaries, place, and space using objects and images including fences, tools, photographs, and publications such as product literature, journals, postcards, and posters.

The Wisconsin Humanities Council coordinates the tour, as part of the Museums on Main Street program, working closely with Wisconsin's six host organizations and communities to plan public programs on the many themes of the exhibition, such as land use, defining public and private space in terms of home, farm, and factory, the settling of the United States, and the boundaries and borders of human relationships.

For more information, see the Wisconsin Humanities Council press release.

June 23, 2007

Schuster Barn Raising

On Saturday, June 23, 2007, visitors to Schuster's Playtime Farm experienced an old fashioned barn raising. Find out more using the links below:

Background Information (PDF file, 52 kb)
Wisconsin State Journal article June 24, 2007 (PDF file, 727 kb; used with permission.)
A Project Update September 7, 2007 (PDF file, 70 kb)
Video slideshow of the event (QuickTime video, 97 Mb, opens in new window.)

From 1994-2004, UW-Extension helped coordinate and offer a series of regional barn preservation workshops. These events provided significant opportunities to learn from the many professionals that provide expertise and services to individuals with barn preservation needs. These were popular programs that required a significant amount of planning. A successful workshop model emerged from these events and searching through the listing below, you can download a number of program brochures that help communicate that basic agenda.

If you are interested in helping plan such an event, contact your county UW-Extension Community Resource Development Educator. You can receive information in the mail about future programs like these by emailing your name and complete mailing address to: dscraven@whs.wisc.edu.

Barns on the Urban Edge: Giving New Life to Old Barns
Schumacher Farm County Park
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Contact: Mindy Habecker, Dane County UW-Extension
Community Resource Development Educator
(608) 224-3718
Download Program Brochure (PDF File 74 kb)

Saving Barns in Northwestern Wisconsin
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
Ashland, Wisconsin
Contact: Tim Kane, Bayfield County UW-Extension,
Community Resource Development Educator
(715) 682-7017
Download Program Brochure (PDF File 33 kb)