WI BARN PRESERVATION NEWS - New Preservation Fund Under Developement

[KKNiteOwl]

NEW WI BARN PRESERVATION FUND UNDER DEVELOPMENT
A new Wisconsin Barn Preservation Fund is being created which will be managed by Citizens for a Scenic Wisconsin, who is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the scenic character of Wisconsin's communities and countryside. This fund will be built from a variety of sources including a percentage of the donations from the Chase Stone Barn preservation project. The Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville, WI, is also contributing. Typically, barn owner's are not eligible for grants because their barns are privately owned. With this new fund, private owners will be able to apply for monies to help restore their old barns. As mentioned, this program is under development. I will post the new information as it becomes available. For more info about Citizens for a Scenic Wisconsin, please visit their website at: http://www.scenicwisconsin.org

CHASE STONE BARN TO BE MODEL FOR BARN PRESERVATION
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) would like to use the Chase Stone Barn in Oconto Cty, WI, to be a model for barn preservation across Wisconsin, and beyond. The barn is on the State and National Register of Historic Places because it is one of the last surviving all-fieldstone barns in the country. The town purchased the barn so they could protect it and restore it and is making the property into an historic park and museum.

WE ARE LOSING OUR OLD BARNS
WI has lost over 83% of the old barns that once dotted our state. In 1935, Oconto County had over 3300 operating farms. Today only around 550 remain, and this is typicical for every county in WI. We can't save them all, but need to save some in order to preserve part of our state's rich agricultural history.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
To learn more about the Chase Stone Barn and its restoration project, please visit www.townofchase.org.