State's heritage barn program earns National Trust award

The Washington State Legislature, the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation were honored in Spokane on Nov. 2 at the National Historic Preservation Conference by receiving an Honor Award for the Heritage Barn Program.

Receiving the award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation was Jerri Honeyford of Sunnyside, Chair of the Washington Heritage Barn Advisory Committee. Also recognized in receiving the award was Senator Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside representing the Washington State Legislature; Dr. Allyson Brooks, the State Historic Preservation Officer; and Jennifer Meisner, director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

Recognizing the steady erosion of historic barns due to deterioration and development pressures, Sen. Jim Honeyford and wife Jerri Honeyford have worked to raise awareness of the importance of barns as historic resources on our rural landscape. Working in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Northwest preservation advocacy group the Washington Trust, Sen. Honeyford advanced legislation that recognized barns as historic resources and provided seed money by the legislature for the preservation of historic era barns.

In just three years, the Washington Heritage Barn Program has identified and surveyed hundreds of barns in Washington State. The most significant barns were added to the Washington Heritage Barn Register. So far, nearly 500 barns have been added to the register. These barns are considered important features of the state’s landscape and rich agricultural history.

In Pierce County, 52 barns have been nominated to the heritage register:

Wilkinson Farm, c. 1915
Narnia Farm, c. 1913
Johnson Farm, c. 1917
Castlegate Farm, c. 1941
Lakeview Dairy, c. 1900
Marsh Property, c. 1902
Ledford Ranch, c. 1938
Run Amok Farm, c. 1940
Hillside Organic Farm, c. 1930
Klumper Ohop Valley Farm, c. 1935
Ohop Valley Farm, c. 1940
Valli End Farm, c. 1910
Zarcrossed Farm, c. 1920
Marvik Barn, c. 1915
Alvestad Ranch, c. 1917
Eagle Acres, c. 1900
Cedarbrook Farm, c. 1900
Guske Barn, c. 1939
Harman Farm, c. 1900
Hummel Barn, c. 1909
Laforge Farm, c. 1915
Noble Lipizzans, c. 1900
Part Time Ranch, c. 1900
Old Nylund Farm, c. 1922
Buffalo Valley (Eatonville), c. 1890
Cox Farm (Tacoma), c. 1902
Yotter Barn (Graham), c. 1910
Van Eaton Farm (Eatonville), c. 1914
White Farm (Graham), c. 1938
Carlson Farm (Fox Island), c. 1906
New Reliance Ranch (Eatonville), c. 1912
Maddock Barn (Longbranch), c. 1910
Morse Wildlife Preserve Barn (Graham), c. 1910
Joseph & Caroline Smailey Barn (Milton), c. 1938
Cavelti Farm (Alderton), c. 1938
Spooner Farms (Alderton), c. 1930
Helle Farm (Edgewood), c. 1914
Charles Andersen Farm (Edgewood), c. 1897
Edgewood Flower Farm (Edgewood), c. 1918
Fred & Aslaug Nelson Farm (Edgewood), c. 1920
Gus Sorensen Farm (Graham), c.1940
Fox Farm (Graham), c. 1900
Briggs Farm (Graham), c. 1916
Johnson Farm (Graham), c. 1920
Fred Weise Farm (Graham), c. 1915
Scholz Farm (Orting), c. 1931
Arvid Backstrom Farm (Roy), c. 1910
Henry Hulscher Farm (Roy), c. 1920
Wilcox Farms (Roy), c. 1951
Clarence Nelson Farm (Tacoma), c. 1935
J.M. Hendrickson Family Homestead (Tacoma), c. 1924
Stan & Joan Cross Park (Tacoma), c. 1927

With matching grants provided by the Washington State Legislature, 46 barns have been restored. The economic stimulus provided by the distribution of the grant funds has been readily seen in each of the rural communities where grants were awarded, creating jobs and motivating barn owners to repair and maintain their barns which are vital to farm operations.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, headquartered in Washington D. C., the National Preservation Honor Awards “are bestowed on distinguished individuals, non-profit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.”