A barn rises as community unites in compassion
On Friday, June 18, the barn of Linda Beachy was destroyed by fire. It took no time at all for community members to leap into action and join in the clean-up and rebuilding of the barn.
Chaos and destruction can be quite devastating when catastrophes happen.
On the other hand, those situations can provide insight into just how loving, caring and compassionate people can be in times of need.
On Friday, June 18 at around 7:30 a.m., a fire was discovered in the barn of Linda Beachy’s property near Trail. The barn, which had been part of the family farm for decades, was gone.
While it would be easy to see this event as the end of something, the community instead made it part of a new beginning, something the people of Holmes County have done for many years as they reach out to help others facing hardships.
The response to the catastrophe was swift and immediate as volunteers from near and far came to help, whether it was with the physical tearing down and rebuilding of the structure, providing food and water for workers, or to give moral support.
While it was a horrifying event, it also brought out the true nature of giving, caring people who put others' needs in front of their own.
For Beachy family friend and neighbor Jerry D. Miller, the undertaking of rebuilding a barn could have happened to anyone in the area. It happened to be his neighbor, but he said regardless of where it happens, people are incredibly gracious in finding whatever way they can to give to the healing and restoration process.
“If there is a fire or a disaster in this area and you reach out, people will respond quickly,” Miller said. “They will respond in love, and they will respond by bending over backward to help. This type of thing isn’t about any certain individual. It’s not about helping Linda Beachy. It is about helping someone in need. It could have been anyone, but it never really matters who it is. Because regardless of whose barn it is, people are ready to help.”
On the morning of the fire, East Holmes Fire responded with assistance from departments from Winesburg, Dundee, Sugarcreek and Holmes Fire District No. 1. They fought the blaze and remained at the scene for hours.
But even before they arrived, neighbors had leapt into action, making sure all of the eight horses were out first and foremost. They also removed several other larger items to safety before the blaze engulfed the barn.
The demise of the barn was just the beginning of the story.
Less that 24 hours later, the Beachy farm was crawling with volunteers who began the clean-up process. Within one week the steps in rebuilding a barn had all taken place. A local sawmill came in and logged 50 large trees on the property and sawed them into boards. The grounds were cleaned immaculately as volunteers dug in. By mid-week the following week, the block foundation was set, and crews and other volunteers were erecting the walls exactly one week after the fire.
According to Miller, several different building crews volunteered their time to come in and help build. He said a crew came in from Middlefield, Ohio. He said barn raising isn’t like it used to be when mortar and tenon barns were en vogue. Today’s barn raising is much more specialized, thus the many professional crews that were on hand.
“It used to be we could use a lot of farmer help on a build,” Miller said. “But the need for that type of barn is no longer here, so it takes a more specialized individual to deal with building today, but we still see the same incredible compassion from these crews and professionals, and everyone finds ways to help. It is inspiring.”
By Saturday, June 26, most of the barn was completed, aside from some smaller details inside that would remain. There would be some grading and excavating that would need to happen, but the actual structure was standing tall and the horse stalls were in place, ready to welcome new horses. It was a testament to the compassion and commitment of a community of believers coming together to serve their neighbor, their friends and a family in need.
In representing her family’s gratitude for the many hands that helped the barn rise from the ashes, Linda Beachy wrote, on behalf of her sons Bobby, Benny and David, “Words could never express enough gratitude for the way we’ve been blessed by this community in the wake of the barn burning. We will never forget the personal sacrifices made by so many individuals. Horse people from many areas and walks of life will visit this barn over the coming years, and each time will be a testament to Christ in this community.”