Barn Restoration at The Old HomeStead Event Barn
Hedge Post swings
Hedge Post swings
Hedge Post swings
We had some old hedge post donated to us by Doug Kettering and recently acquired some swings, so we decided to create a couple of hedge post swings for our guests. Now, you can sit and relax by the pond, feed the many goldfish, watch the birds, or just enjoy the calm and quiet of the country. Doug had removed these posts from a fence line he tore out. The hedgewood tree is a bright golden yellow and highly rot resistant, making it perfect for our barn construction. Our vision is to establish a variety of rustic photo opportunities throughout the property, allowing guests to create special memories. More benches, docks, and landscaping are on the way as The Old Homestead continues to grow.
Barn restoration
Hedge Post swings
Hedge Post swings
The old barn was quite a mess. The upper level hay loft had collapsed and was hanging not by a thread but by the 50 amp electrical cable used for RVs on the north side of the building. The entire floor was gone, so we added new treated floor joists to support the barn construction efforts. Three of the main posts were rotten beyond repair and needed replacement. Brian Thomas of Four All Seasons Construction replaced those three posts. Other beams with mortise and tenon joints were also damaged, leading us on a quest for new (old) lumber. Thanks to Brad Le Kamp of Chapin, we had access to two old wooden barns, which we set out to dismantle and haul back to Rushville. It took about six months and over 100 trips to achieve this tear down, resulting in approximately 25 tons of lumber.
The second barn we dismantled was offered to us by Linda Acherson and Alan Acherson. This barn was huge, featuring three stories and a basement. We were concerned about the possibility of losing this barn to arsonists, as had happened to us before, so we worked throughout the winter. Having a deadline for the soon-to-be-restored Old Homestead motivated our efforts. The Old Homestead restoration was completed not only through our hard work but also through the generosity of those who allowed us to dismantle their old family barns, providing the materials needed for this rustic project.
This was truly a Labor of Love, filled with rustic photo opportunities that often remind us of the significant effort involved in the restoration. The Old Homestead is a living project that will continue to evolve, and we are excited to share it with all our new guests, along with our charming Hedge Post swings.