January 3, 2008

State adds three Adams County

barns to heritage list

Three barns in Adams County are among the 159 barns approved in the first group of historic barns added to the new Heritage Barn Register.

The Washington State Heritage Barn Register recognizes barns as historically significant resources.

Topping the list of 159 barns is the Galbreath Land and Livestock barn on Weber Avenue, a Gothic structure built circa 1905.

The Krause Barn, located on East Rehn Road, is a gable structure built in 1901. Red Goose Inc., Farm features a broken Gable barn constructed in 1915 on North Damon Road, Odessa.

Nomination forms are available from the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) at www.dahp.wa.gov or (360) 586-3065.

According to DAHP’s Web site, “Listing on the Heritage Barn Register is strictly honorary in nature and offers no protection from demolition, nor requires review of alterations or changes in use.

“However, listing in the Heritage Barn Register does make owners eligible to apply for matching grants for stabilizing and restoring historic barns.”

Heritage Barn Matching Grant applications are posted at DAHP’s Web site or are available by contacting Chris Moore at the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, (206) 624-9449 or cmoore@wa-trust.org.

Applications for the next round of grants are due Jan. 15, 2008. Only barns listed on the new Heritage Barn Register or previously listed on the state or national register are eligible to apply.

The 1896 barn on the Davenish Ranch located in Section 15, Township 19 North, Range 38 East, was the only historic barn listed on the Washington Heritage Register prior to the new barn program.

The Heritage Barn Register was created with Substitute House Bill 2115, approved in May of 2007, which provided for competitive matching grants to barn owners and established a committee that reviews grant applications, examines tax incentives and land use regulations.