Edsel Ford Barn Reconstruction Begins!

On Sunday, April 15, 2012, the Edsel Ford Barn in the Haven Hill section of Highland State Recreation Area received two giant new shed walls on it's west side. Hardy volunteers from the Friends of Highland Recreation Area worked between rain showers and thunderstorms to clean old wounds from the barn and install the new walls.  It was a momentous day as the workers performed the first new construction on the barn since the violent storm damage of June 2008.

The Barn's new wall structures will soon support new overhead rafters and eventually allow roofing to be completed. This will begin a process of gradually closing up the building to prevent weather damage. Volunteers applauded as the 1st new wall was set into place last Sunday.

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Long term plans for the building include eventual use of the barn as a gathering point for park visitors, possible meeting rooms, winter activities shelter, food services, and education facility.  The current focus is on stabilizing the structure and stopping the gradual loss of the barn over time.

To volunteer, please come out and attend work days which repeat on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month starting at 9:00 am. Look for the Friends group members at the Haven Hill Gate House, Edsel Ford Barn, or on Haven Hill. For more information please visit www.fohra.org.