Have you ever wondered what steps you need to take to restore a historic barn?
Or how to fund a rehabilitation? Well, look no further! Restore Oregon is hosting its fifth annual Heritage Barn Workshop in Eastern Oregon! This is the first time the workshop will be held on the east side of the state and will provide education, as well as hands-on experience for attendees. Restore Oregon is partnering with Eastern Oregon Visitor Association to host this educational opportunity.
The workshop will be held in Union and will feature the 1914 “big red barn” at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center managed by Oregon State University. The station is the oldest in the state and was built in 1901. Once a farm owned by Charles Elliot Davis, he sold the property to the state which originally intended to use the site as an asylum. Instead, it was developed for an experiment station and the barn with its stone first floor, t-shaped plan, and prominent cross-gable roof is quite unique.
The town of Union has a charming Main Street, which is listed as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. Union was incorporated in 1878 and was the county seat until 1904 when La Grande assumed that role. It retains much of its historic character through its downtown turn-of-the-century commercial buildings and beautiful Victorian houses. Nestled at the southern end of Eastern Oregon’s Grand Ronde Valley, Union is surrounded by the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Participants in the workshop may choose to stay at the Union Hotel, which was built in 1921 and is the largest commercial building on Main Street.
Restore Oregon advocates for the rehabilitation and preservation of historic barns because they define Oregon’s agricultural heritage and landscape. We recognize the challenges that owners face in rehabilitating and repurposing these historic structures and our workshop fosters creative ways to preserve and perpetuate new life for these rural landmarks.
The workshop will feature speakers, training, and sessions on barn condition assessment and stabilization. Barn owners, historic preservationists, and the public are invited with no previous knowledge needed to participate. Snacks, beverages, lunch and parking are included in the registration fee.
Registration for the workshop will open on August 7th at www.RestoreOregon.org.