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The historic barns on the 2015 Barn Tour. 

Ronald and Martha Ellen Dills purchased this property in Liberty Township in 1994. It has been in Martha's family for more than a century. Martha's grandfather, Otis Moorhead, purchased the farm in 1902 for $20,000 from Jonathan Aurand. According to the 1916-1921 rural directory, Mr. Moorhead owned 238 acres, six horses and twenty0five cows. He raised short horn cows, sheep and pigs. On his many acres, Mr. Moorhead grew oats, corn, and wheat. This property was originally settled in 1829 by John Bobanmyer. Joanathan Aurand purchased the farm in 1865 for $5,500. Aurand Cemetery lies just north of the barn, across State Route 12. The raised barn likely dates to the 1870's. Most of the structure is hand-hewn, however the bark that is visible on some of the tie beams indicates that the builders were having to use second period forests in the area and were beginning to run out of very large timber. The original threshing floor is visible, as are the original wood shake shingles (under the metal roof). The barn was constructed to store hay. Six louvered windows dot the north wall. The stone foundation is of particular interest. It is possible that the stone was quarried at a nearby Moorhead property on Township Road 139. Later additions to the barn have compromised the original structure and contributed to its current state. One summer beam in the basement of the barn is badly deteriorated. The Dills are currently investigating whether or not it is viable to preserve the barn. While guests are not able to walk through the barn, the exterior detail and substantial stone foundation are remarkable features. The barn is illustrative of a dilemma that many farmers and landowners face: weighing the historical significance of this impressive structure with the realities of cost and functionality.

This large raised barn has been in Martha Dills family for more than a century. Primarily hand-hewn, the barn is notable for its impressive stone foundations (quarried nearby). Access to the barn is limited due to significant structural damage. The future of this beloved barn is uncertain, and illustrates the challenges faced by many owners when trying to preserve a historic structure. 

Hancock Historical Museum, Barn Tour Collection, 2015

Aurand-Dills Barn

This parcel of land was settled in 1831 by Philip Kramer. Kramer has a large family and was a major landholder in Union Township. He sold this parcel to his son-in-law, Henry Smaltz, and in 1852 the property was purchased by Philip Schwinn at a sheriff's sale. The barn was built under the direction and ownership of Philip during the 1850's or 1860's. Philip's son, Henry Schwinn, was deeded the property on October 31, 1870. Henry's daughter, Amanda, married Elroy Deeds in 1898 and they had a son, Elmer. Amanda died shortly after Elmer's birth. Elroy died in 1905, and Elmer went on to live with his grandparents, Henry and Margaret Ellen Deeds. On October 4, 1919, the young Elmer was deeded this property. Elmer, and his wife Olivia, lived here for 40 years and sold the property in 1959 to Harold and Doris Helmlinger. The Helmlingers sold the property to Kevin and Debra McDonald on October 2, 1998. This ground barn was originally built for hay storage. The majority of the frame is beech and much of the material is hand-hewn. The roof system is not original to the barn, and was probably replaced in the 1880s with this particularly tall and steep pitch to make room for additional hay storage. The McDonalds discovered the date of 1884 painted on the barn, which probably indicates the date of the construction of the new roof system, as the rest of the hand-hewn frame predates the 1880's. A portion of the original raised tongue-and0groove floor is still visible in the barn. A swell beam, or "fish-belly tie", is also visible. This horizontal beam is wider at the center and tapers at the ends and lays on its side in the end bent for additional strength against the wind. The McDonalds have preserved the historic farmhouse (c. 1870s) and several outbuildings on the property as well, including a summer kitchen and a smokehouse that is still regularly used around the holidays. The level of detail in the house and outbuildings indicate that the farmer has considerable wealth. Today, the McDonalds maintain this idyllic country property with great care. A new roof was recently put on the barn, which is used for storage and to care for the McDonald's many horses. Debra rides as a member of the Hancock County Sheriff's mounted posse. On September 1st, 2015 at approximately 10:30pm, Kevin McDonald found the 160-year old barn on this property engulfed in flames. When firemen arrived, the barn was fully involved. Despite the best efforts of firefighters from Mt. Cory and Blanchard Township, the barn was a total loss. A nearby outbuilding also sustained minor damage. Fortunately, the McDonald's animals, including six horses, all survived the fire. The cause of the blaze remains undetermined.

Kevin and Debra McDonald's idyllic country property is the setting for this pre-civil war era ground barn. A new roof was added in the 1880s to allow for additional hay storage. In addition to the barn, the McDonald's have preserved the historic farmhouse and several outbuilding on the property, including a summer kitchen and smokehouse. (c. 1850's-1860's)

Schwinn- McDonald Barn

David and Janet Reese are the third generation of the Reese family to own this farm. David's grandfather, Pearl Jay Reese, and his wife, Jessie Mae, purchased the farm in 1918. Their acreage extends beyond this site, as they are the owners/operators of nearby Kaleidoscope Farms, where they grow thousands of Christmas trees. The nearby farm also includes several historic outbuildings. Kaleidoscope Farms is a family operation with the assistance of the Reeses' four sons. For three generations, this 1,200 sq. ft. barn housed a dairy operation. The barn is a typical, three-bay, English ground barn, and the size and design are reminiscent of a New England style. It likely dates to the 1870's or 1880's, and gives several clues to its age. While some of the material is hand-hewn, the smaller braces (scantlings) are circular sawn. The barn builders probably made use of some of the last old-growth material available in the area that could span the whole length of the barn as one piece of lumber. Both the plates and purlins are one piece ("one stick"). The orientation of the bracing in the barn is unique. The whitewash on the walls from the old milking parlor on the east side of the barn is still visible, and there is evidence that the milking parlor replaced earlier granary. The extant granary on the north is not original to this barn, but has a connection to Janet (deeds) and added to this barn five years ago. At that time, Amish craftsman were brought in to secure and preserve the barn-an important part of the history of this family farm. Janet has fond memories of running and playing through the granary as a child on her father's farm. Following the renovation, this barn has been used as a workshop for Kaleidoscope Christmas Tree Farm. The barn is part of the Hancock County Barn Quilt Trail. The pattern of the colorful quilt square on the front of the barn was chosen to reflect Janet's lavender labyrinth garden on the property.

This property has been in the Reese family for three generations, and has qualified for Century Farm status. The barn underwent extensive restoration five years with the assistance of Amish craftsmen. The grainery from a nearby 1860's barn was added at the that time. The barn is on the Hancock County Barn Quilt Trail, and houses a workshop and gift shop for nearby Kaleidoscope Farms. (c. 1870's)

Hancock Historical Museum, Barn Tour Collection

Flick-Reese Barn

This property has been in continuous ownership by the same family for more than 180 years. Robert Burner's great-great-great grandfather., John Kemerer, entered the land on October 19, 1832. His entry was for 160 acres-80 acres for his son, David, and 80 acres for his daughter and her husband, Issac Burner. In 1896, David Kemerer sold the property to his son, Peter Kemerer. In 1924, peter and his wife, Harriett, sold the property to his cousin, Floyd Burner. Floyd later sold the property to his son, Ralph Burner, in 1957. The current owners, Robert and Mimi Burner, purchased the property from his grandparents in 1999 and farm approximately 600 acres. The original frame of this 2,000 square foot ground barn dates to the Civil War era and was built by David Kemerer. The original frame would have had a gable roof when it was built in the 1860's. A new roof system was added to this barn sometime in the 1880's-1890's. The gambrel roof line made room for the new advent of the hay track and allowed for additional hay storage. The large canted queen posts that support the gambrel roof likely came from a different barn, as they are entirely hand hewn and pre-date this more recent addition. The barn exhibits skilled timber framing, with table half-lap (scarf) joints. In addition to hay storage, the barn has been used for livestock. Robert's grandfather, Ralph Burner, raised hogs and the back shed was added for this purpose in 1965.A new cement floor was laid in the barn less than 10 years ago. Today, this historic barn houses a complex and technical operation for raising and showing champion animals. The barn is equipped with a cold room that stays a consistent 55 degrees for the 4-h calves. The animals are bathed prior and styled prior to shows. The Burner family has raised several champion animals, including the Hancock County Fair's 2009 Grand Champion Junior Heifer, 2013 Grand Champion Market Beef, 2013 Ohio Cattleman's Best Show Novice Division 4th Overall, 2014 Grand Champion Market beef, and 2014 Showman of Showman Large Animal Division Winner.

This property has been in the same family for more than 180 years. While the main frame dates to the 1860's a new gambrel roof system was added in the 1880's to allow for additional hay storage. Today, this historic barn houses a complex and technical operation for raising and showing 4-H animals. In recent years, the Burners have raised several champions, including Hancock County's Gran Champion Market Beef in 2014. (c. 1860's)

Kemerer-Burner barn

The Laser Barn is particularly interesting as it is really two distinct, adjoining barns. This property was settled in 1833 by Michael Whisler. It remained in the Whisler family until 1893, when it was purchased by Samuel Gressley. It promptly changed hands until 1893, when it was purchased by Samuel Gressley. It promptly changed hands again that year to Windfield Dorsey. Dorsey has the property until 1930, when it passed to Riah Ethel Frantz. It remained in the Frantz family until 2013, when the house and barn were purchased by Donald and Cheryl Laser. Much of the surrounding acreage is still owned and farmed y the Frantz family. The front barn is a raised barn with stalls and cemented floor below. It is a plank barn that likely dates to the 1910's or 1920's. With the loss of large tree forests by the late of 1800's, the days of large dimension timber framing were coming to a close. Farmers looked for a more inexpensive and faster was of barn construction while maintaining strength and diversity in design. Builders were experimenting with truss and laminated plank frame construction. Interestingly, this barn does not make use of any of the standard trussing systems used at the time. It was build for hay storage. The back barn is a ground barn and was built much earlier. Several adaptations have been made to this early barn, but much of the original structure is intact. As one time, it had a raised floor system that is no longer visible. The original straining tie was taken out to make way for the hay track. The hay track itself is an early rendition and is made of wood. While the barn now presents itself as a transverse barn (entrance on the short wall), evidence suggests that the original entrance was on the long wall. The barn is almost entirely hand-hwen, including much of the smaller bracing. There are a handful of examples of very early sash sawing and the original pole rafters are extant. These details suggest that the barn was constructed in the 1850's and perhaps as early as the 1840's, making it one of the earliest barns ever featured on the Barn Tour.

The Laser Barn is particularly interesting as it is really two distinct barns. The front, raised barn is a plank construction with a unique truss system that sates to the 1910's or 1920's. As large timber became harder to find at the turn of the century, builders looked to laminated plank construction. The back barn may be the oldest barn featured on the barn Tour and dates back to the pre-Civil War era. The original pole rafters are still visible, and the main entry has been moved to a transverse presentation. 

Whisler-Laser Barn

Mary Carr settled this property in 1835. In 1845, it was deeded to Joseph Stratton, and in 1856, it changed hands again when it was deeded to henry Gressley. The barn was built in the 1860's under Gressley's ownership. The property was sold to George Hummon in 1871 and remained in the Hummon family for another 40 years. In 1912, the property was purchased by Thomas Carr, and was passed down through the Carr family until the Cupples family purchased it in 1972. The truss system in the barn's shed addition is unique. When the Carr family owned the property, Holstein cows were housed in the shed and miked just next door. members of the Carr family recall fond memories of playing in the barn as children and hiding in the corn crib. The barn originally had an upper loft, haymow, and granary. During the Carr's ownership, the original haymow in the shed fell on the cows below! Most of the original flagstone foundation of the barn is visible. The original wood shake shingles have been covered by the metal roof but are still visible from the interior. This indicates that this is the original roof system and helps to date the barn to before the 1880s and the common use of slate shingles. The barn boasts many decorative louvers that have been well preserved. The original straining tie was cut out to make way for a hay track and the interior posts were also removed to crate a more open expanse. The resulting large, open space is now reinforced with cabling, but the barn stood for many years without such support, earning it the title of "But for the Grace of God" Barn on out tour by the experts that have evaluated it! The barn even survived a tornado in the late 1980's. The original wood floor was removed in the 1990's and the hay track was removed in 2012. When the Cupples family acquired the property, they spent several years reconditioning and building up the soil that had badly deteriorated and eroded. Richard and Linda used to raise cattle, sheep, hogs and horses in the barn, but it is now used exclusively for machinery storage. Richard and Linda farm more than 800 surrounding acres with corn and soybeans.

This Civil War-era ground barn was build by Henry Gressley and boasts many decorative louvers and a shed with a unique truss system. The Cupples family once used the barn to raise livestock, and now use it to store machinery for their 800+ acre family farm. (c. 1860's) 

Gressley- Cupples Barn

The Clymer family owned this property for several generations. It is believed that the barn dates to the pre-civil war era, making it one of the oldest barns on the Museum’s tour. Presumably, the barn was built by Charles Clymer. Records show that Charles owned the property as early as 1863, but the Clymer family was probably here at least 30 years earlier than that.  The traditional three bay barn is very heavily braced, and the main frame is almost entirely hand-hewn. The original roof system is in place and the pole rafters are visible. The queen posts—the vertical posts that sit on the cross tie and rise up to the purlin plate to support the roof—are vertical rather than canted. The vertical posts indicate an older barn. The rafter plates and purlin plates are all one piece (“one stick”) in length. A straining tie that once spanned the width of the barn was removed to make way for the hay track, probably sometime after the 1880’s. The original granary is extant, as well as the exterior tongue-and-groove siding.  The shed addition to the main barn is laminated plank construction and was probably added in the 1910’s or 1920’s to accommodate livestock. The unique brick floor in the rear of the barn is historically significant as well. The bricks originally lined the streets in Benton Ridge and were reused in the barn when the roads were paved with asphalt. Scott and Michelle Livingston purchased the property in 2011, and have taken several measures to preserve the historic structure.  Under the Clymer family’s ownership during WWII, this property was the site of a horrific plane crash. A U.S. Army B-25 that had taken off from Patterson Field in Dayton, crashed behind the barn on November 2, 1941. Four army servicemen and one civilian were killed in the crash. The plane hit the ground with such force that it immediately burst into flames and much of the debris was pushed deep underground. Remnants from the crash are still occasionally found in the adjacent field.

One of the oldest structures on the tour, this pre-civil war era three-bay barn was presumably built by the Clymer family. The barn has original pole rafters and vertical queen posts. A laminated plank shed addition was added in  the 1920’s to accommodate livestock. Recently, the Livingstons have taken several measures to preserve the impressive barn. 


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