West Paris–Bringing a 19th century barn into the 21st century is a labor of love and determination.
Since moving back to the family homestead three years ago‚ I’ve been concerned about the barn. With the foundation needing repair‚ braces missing or broken‚ and siding deteriorating‚ there was work to be done that could no longer be postponed. More on the barn. I knew I had to find a way to raise money to stabilize the structure and be able to house animals again.
The idea for the calendar began with a joke. I was hosting a chainsaw safety workshop for women and we were mulling over ideas to raise money to pay for an instructor. Someone said‚ “We could do a nude calendar‚” referring to the success the McLaughlin Foundation (in South Paris) has had with their calendar‚ “Altogether in the Garden.” We all laughed and the conversation moved on. Later the idea of a calendar came back to me…
The calendar I compiled pairs artwork by my aunt‚ Jane Porter Gibson‚ with excerpts from the diary of my great–grandfather‚ William Child Stearns. Jane lived on the farm from 1972–2003‚ and made linoleum prints of farm scenes for her annual Christmas cards. More on the artist. My great–grandfather lived on the farm his entire life (1867–1945) and actively farmed here for 50 years. I found the story I wanted to tell in his spare‚ unembellished diary entries‚ describing the life and times on the farm. More on the diarist.
The “Save the Barn on Stearns Hill Farm: A Calendar for 2007” is truly a family collaborative work. We hope it will bring you much pleasure throughout the coming year.
–Ellen S. Gibson
Grant programs to help individuals repair historic buildings are few and far between. This year‚ for the first time since 2001‚ the Maine Historic Preservation Commission offered grants for barns through funding from the New Century Community Program. Our barn was one of eight in the state of Maine to be funded. We were awarded $10‚000 to repair the foundation and stabilize the barn. In making the award‚ the commission acknowledged the barn was “very significant” and felt that $10‚000‚ in addition to the required match‚ would move the project ahead significantly and ensure the barn remains standing for many years to come.
Help us make the match! Order a calendar… Send them as gifts… Tell your friends!
Friends of the Farm‚ Help Save the Barn!
