MILLBROOK – It was cold, raining, and blustery Friday evening, October 23rd, but that didn’t stop the sixty plus people from making their way to 400 Stewart Line, where the Stewart Barn is located. It was there they heard about the disappearance of many special and unique barns across Ontario and what may be able to be done about it.

Millbrook Cavan Historical Society hosted a great informative and entertaining evening, which included hot apple cider, home baked goods, warm coats, wool blankets, and the hospitality of Sue and David Stewart in their wonderfully renovated multi-use barn. The irony was not lost on the people who came to the event, as many expressed the opinion that the location was perfect and helped to set the atmosphere for the presentation.

Steve Elliott, Secretary of Millbrook Cavan Historical Society and host for the evening, expressed his gratitude for everyone that made it out. "It was certainly not the best night we’ve had during our Indian Summer, but it was wonderful that farmers from as far away as Oshawa and Hamilton Township took the time to come to it, as well as residents from our Township, from Peterborough and Lindsay", he said.

Dr. John Carter, a museologist and historian who has had an interest in barns since his childhood growing up in Waterloo County and spending summers on the Bruce Peninsula, spoke of the challenge that faces municipal heritage committees, historical societies, archives, heritage centres and museums across the province. He spoke of these groups combining their work to help preserve the remaining vestiges of our built rural heritage in any way that we can. "While we cannot hope to physically save all barns and related agricultural outbuildings and landscapes, we should at least make the best effort possible to accurately record these resources", he told the crowd. He asked the rhetorical question of whether or not we can truly empathize with the struggles that our ancestors experienced in the design and construction of these massive wooden structures. He also wondered if we recognize the true social importance of a barn-raising bee or the position of esteem that an expert barn framer held in the community when his skills and expertise we called upon to erect these buildings.

So what can be done by the various groups? One idea is that all local heritage groups concentrate on developing an inventory of barns, outbuildings and silos in the immediate vicinity. A camera, video camera, tape measure, and a tape recorder are some of the tools required. A ring binder with photos and relevant historical and architectural information is a useful format for compiling and preserving this research. Raising awareness can be facilitated through this process, one that has already been followed by historical societies and heritage groups on Manitoulin Island, in the Districts of Muskoka, Kenora and Algoma, Lambton and Wellington Counties and by the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy group in Lindsay.

Another option could be the designation of barns and rural landscapes that municipalities and their municipal heritage committees could take. This has been done for barns and farmsteads in the Region of Waterloo, Region of Peel and Oxford County.

Dr. Carter emphasized that while nineteenth century barns and outbuildings may have become redundant because of technological evolution in today’s modern agriculture, "a concerted effort should be made to find other uses for these structures", he said. "In several cases, non-agricultural uses such as antique shops, art galleries, theatres, wineries, gift shops, restaurants or residences have resulted in the complete recycling of former barns. Such decisions have infused new life and purpose into these buildings, which in many cases had been threatened with demolition, and have brought economic growth, tourism and stability to local areas."

Steve Elliott concurred with Dr. Carter’s observations. "On a local level, the challenge remains to proceed with a systematic process of recording which could lead to designation, preservation, or the reuse of barns and outbuildings throughout the Township, as well as continued education and awareness for the general public’s sake", he said. "As Dr. Carter has said in the past, such initiatives might result in good news about barn raisings instead of barn razings!"

The above presentation is one of a series of Community Outreach public events the Historical Society has held in the hope that history will continue to live and thrive here in the Millbrook/Cavan area. Millbrook & Cavan Historical Society is proud to bring speakers of quality and interest to our area. Your continued interest and support will ensure the Historical Society continues to play a vital and collaborative role in preserving and enhancing our history and heritage.