The Whitley County Historical Society
Whitley
County Museum
108 West Jefferson Street
Columbia City, Indiana 46725
Telephone: (219) 244-6372
Fax: 219-244-6384
Recent News Articles about the WCHS
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The Post and Mail, Columbia City Indiana, April 27, 2001:
Waugh, White honored by historical society By ROBIN R. PLASTERER
For their many years of service to the Whitley County Historical Society, Allan White and Inez Waugh were co-winners of the James Waugh Award.
Barns were subject of keynote speaker at annual meeting
For their many years of service to the Whitley County Historical Society, Allan White and Inez Waugh were co-winners of the James Waugh Award. Both were honored at Thursday night's annual meeting. Even though they were not present, Kay Craig and Tom Kirk received the President's Award.Craig has helped in many areas of the Historical and Genealogical Society's and is the new editor of The Bulletin, the official booklet of the WCHS.Kirk was the editor for many years and has retired. Appropriately held at Darley's Barn in South Whitley, the guest speaker, Marsh Davis, director of community services at Heritage Preservation Center, a division of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, told the packed barn the history and the preservation of farmer's barns in Indiana.Davis was in Whitley County in 1995 with the Barn Again program where he worked with Val Slack, extension agriculture educator, to restore a barn."Barns are wonderful icons of the past. They're nostalgic. They are practical buildings. They were designed as such. Through Barn Again we can still find ways to utilize them," said David."I commend the People Preserving History here in Whitley County. They are a group of dynamos. I enjoy working with them on historical projects. Recently they sent out surveys regarding historic sites and structures. Soon they'll receive a publication showing the inventory of the project," he said."For those who grew up on a farm, barns are second nature. For those of us who didn't, barns remain a mystery. The results of PPH's survey will help folks understand the barn's use," he said."Barns in Whitley County are in pretty good shape. I commend you on your preservation," Davis said."The first way to help people preserve or appreciate barns is to tell them what you do with a barn. For suburbanites, barns remain mysterious," Davis said.He went on to show slides and explain the various types of barns including the English or three bay barns, the German bank barn, single crib barn, transverse frame barn, tobacco barn, midwest three-portal barn and finally the less traditional barns, the round or octagonal barns.Davis gave the history and ethnic original of the many types of barns used in Indiana. He challenged his audience to drive around and take a look at barns and try to identify the type of barn it is.He explained how in 1860 the styles of barns made a dramatic change."The barns became more scientific and worked with better farming technology. Progressive farmers were pursuing this. The gables and pitches became higher on barns. There were more elaborate roofs. There is a lot more open space above. Hay was stacked to the rafters and you didn't play basketball in these barns," Davis joked."The newer barns produced more light with more windows. This was better for the cows," he said."The ultimate expression of this era was the round barn. There are around 100 left in Indiana. This type of barn peaked between 1900 and 1920. American farmers were doing very well then," said Davis."Soon after 1920 barn building began to decline. It corresponded with the agricultural prosperity. After the war there were tremendous changes. Pole barns began. Older barns weren't used as much," said Davis.He showed a picture of a huge John Deere combine and then showed a picture of a typical barn and it obviously wouldn't fit."Grain storage began changing. Now grains are stored in massive metal bins. The result is big and expansive landscapes. We've taken down fences and opened up our land. Our challenge is to put barns back into use. That's the mission of Barn Again," he said."Through Barn Again we've established awards and promotional programs. Barns can be kept useful again in farming of today," he said.Davis commented that Darley's Barn is a treasure and is an excellent way of utilizing a historical barn."Barns give us a taste of our past. The next time you drive around and see barns. Take a closer look and see if there is preservation integrity there," he concluded.New board members were elected. They are Dr. Clark Waterfall, president, Jan Shupert-Arick, vice president, Kay Craig, corresponding secretary, Beverly Henley, recording secretary, Charles Brown, treasurer, the Rev. Gene Kinney, second district board and Judge Michael Rush, at-large board.Many door prizes were given out, a first in WCHS history. They were generously donated by Kent Theatre, Subway, Paige's Crossing, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, El Comedor, Keith L. Henley, realtor with Mike Thomas Associates, National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States in Auburn, Allen County/Fort Wayne Historical Society, Science Central, The Lincoln Museum, Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville, The Fort Wayne International Airport's Greater Fort Wayne Aviation Museum and the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.
© The Post and Mail 2001
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