Ontario Barn Preservation group turning its attention to the north
Mainly focused in southern Ontario, the organization is now turning its attention to the historic barns of the north.
"Right now we can't speak to how old the barns are in northern Ontario, we need reps up there to help us dig up the information up so we have a better knowledge of them," said group representative John Busch.
"I had posted information on a barn here on the Facebook page and a woman commented and asked if I would consider coming to look at her barn."
Busch is planning a trip to Manitoulin Island next month to see that barn, as well as six others he's become aware of. He says while the barns of the north are generally not as old as down south, some on the island date back to the 19th Century.
The group literally tries to keep barns from falling over by giving advice to property owners, as well as suggesting contractors who could help. And one day, the group hopes to be able to offer financial support as well.
"Once the history is wiped out, you have nothing. You need to study the history to learn the future," said Busch.
"These old barns are built at a time when it would maybe cost the farmer $600 to help with the frame of it. They were then built by neighbours coming in to help finish the build.
"The barn was the base of that farm but also the core connection often within the community."
He hopes there will be someone in northern Ontario who will step up and become a regional rep for the organization in that area.
"We need help, we need volunteers from northern Ontario to collect their stories and add them to the main consensus across the province," said Busch, adding that he has heard of some historic barns up in the Kirkland Lake and Cochrane areas, but hasn't been up to see them.
"They probably don't even know about us. So we need someone in northern Ontario who can hold up our flag and help these people."
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