Barns help preserve agricultural history in Holmes County
Owned by Claudia Rozuk and Claude Ruston Baker, the Legends of Music Barn is a unique work of art in Holmes County.
Rural Holmes County has many examples of historic barns that grace the countryside. These buildings are not just rural relics, but also a tangible reminder of Ohio's rural heritage.
Pam Gray, a barn consultant from Mount Vernon, calls them the “castles of the farmyard." Anyone who has ever stepped inside one of these structures will agree. Most are struck at the workmanship and sheer size of these timber-framed barns.
And while still a common sight in the area, they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Because farming practices have changed with larger equipment and less livestock, some barns are not as useful for most modern farming and can be costly to maintain. Some are being dismantled for their timber or left to slowly deteriorate from neglect because of a lack of resources.
However, with a little ingenuity, almost anything can be restored and repurposed for a second lease on life. When the land for a new Holmes County Fairground was donated, it came with a Pennsylvania Dutch forebay barn. A decision was made to preserve the barn, and today it is the focal point of the new fairground and a tribute to the county's agrarian roots.
“The fair board is so thankful for our decision to preserve the barn on our new property," said Kerry Taylor, Holmes County Fair board president. "Thanks to the generosity of the Arlie and Evelyn Rodhe family, we were able to restore the barn, which we believe was built around 1900. We were glad to partner with the Holmes County Historical Society to provide a permanent display which chronologically displays the history of barns in the area.”
Today the barn is the focal point of Harvest Ridge and provides a space for the floral and garden exhibits, as well as a venue for weddings and other events.
Sharon Strouse, a volunteer for the Holmes County Historical Society, helped to secure funding for a permanent display mounted on the wall of the granary in the upper level of the barn. The backdrop is an enlarged 1873 Holmes County Atlas with photos of different styles of historical barns from around the county affixed on the vintage map in the area where they are located.
“The Holmes County Historical Society and its partners designed a large-scale agriculture-history time line featuring representative photos of our county's barns. The beauty of this wall is that events and activities can coexist with the experience of learning about our agricultural history, architecture and restoration resources,” Strouse said.
Starting in 1996, Paul and Loretta Coblentz converted a former dairy barn to The Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast just north of Millersburg.
“The foundation for The Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast dates back to the 1840s, but the barn itself is original to 1919," said Gene Rowland, who along with his wife Michelle purchased the inn in 2017 when Paul and Loretta retired. "Fire claimed two barns on the concrete before lightning rods were installed. The property operated as a 120-acre dairy farm for decades until it passed hands to the Millers, then eventually to Paul and Loretta Coblentz in 1996, who transformed the building into the beautiful bed and breakfast you see today.”
The Rowlands continue to operate one of the most unique inns in Ohio's Amish Country.
Yet another former dairy barn was turned into one of the most interesting barns in the county, if not the state. Owned by Claudia Rozuk and Claude Ruston Baker, the Legends of Music Barn is a unique work of art. Baker, an accomplished muralist, has covered the exterior with larger-than-life paintings of famous musicians over the years. Visitors come from near and far to take photos.
“The barn is a nonprofit venue," Baker said. "It's outgrowing our expectations. It takes an incredible amount of time, upkeep and expense to maintain. The best of it all is the connection with the world. We've made great friends from 70 countries, and most come back to visit. But it is only open privately with reservations and never for commercial use. If you drive by, you might catch us there.”
Restoring a barn can be a daunting and expensive journey, especially if it needs extensive repairs. The first step is to consult with an expert like Gray, one of the founders of Friends of Ohio Barns, which is Ohio's statewide barn-advocacy program that encourages preservation of Ohio barns through stewardship, offering a competitive grant, workshops and more at www.friendsofohiobarns.org.
Other helpful resources include the Barn Again, a program sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The State Historical Preservation office of the OSU Extension encourages owners to maintain their historic buildings for future generations to use and appreciate. It has useful links on its website including a list of barn contractors and consultants. However, it is not comprehensive or up to date. The best advice is to do your research and talk to others who have already made the decision to restore their historical barn.