Tag Archives: national trust for historic preservation

NBA Goes on the Road to Savannah, GA!

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PastForward_Web_619x350Here we go again!   NBA Board Members and state barn organization partners are volunteering their time and energy to continue the NBA’s presence at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference.  This year, the action is in Savannah, Georgia, where we connect with preservationists of all kinds to engage them in conversations about saving America’s historic barns!

Savannah, GA

What does an urban landscape like Savannah have to offer barn lovers?  We think the trip to the South has a lot of potential!  The state of Georgia was one of the first to create an historic agricultural context to aid in the evaluation of farm properties for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).  Anyone can download a copy of this context, entitled  Tilling the Earth, and learn more about the types of agriculture practiced historically in the state.  Vernacular agricultural studies are also common about students at the Savannah College of Design (SCAD), one of the NTHP’s local partners in conference activities.

Though we won’t be able to bring any of our barn models south this year, we will bring our fabulous 2014 t-shirts with the catchy phrase: “Vernacular is Spectacular: Save Our Barns!”  After the conference, these t-shirts will be up for sale to great friends like you – they are sure to make great stocking stuffers for any barn lover!

Until then, plan to swing by our booth if you’re attending the NTHP conference and check out our hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other helpful barn-preservation items to show your support for old barns!

Buffalo 7th Graders Raise a Model Barn [video]

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On October 18, over 200 7th and 8th graders from the Waterfront School in Buffalo, NY, built a model of a “Dutch” barn typically found in New York from 130 wooden pieces using only simple hand tools and without nails.

Teamworks and Timbers is the National Barn Alliance educational outreach program bringing youth face-to-face with America’s disappearing rural heritage and trades. The program is designed to plant the seed for preservation while sharing history and teaching science/engineering/construction skills to youth in grades 4-12.

This program was in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference being held in Buffalo from October 19-22. Stephanie Meeks, President & CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation observed keenly the kids in the building process.

Back from Buffalo!

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The National Barn Alliance is back from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Buffalo. And we are still giddy from it! We had many successes over that week.

 

On Tuesday, we raised a Dutch model barn as part of our educational program, Teamworks & Timbers, with 200 students from the Waterfront School in Buffalo.

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, we held an affinity luncheon for thirty friends of historic barns where we gave away Charles Leik’s maple syrup from his Michigan farm and a barn puzzle during a trivia session.

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, we raised our Dutch model hall in the Buffalo Convention Center. Board PResident, Charles Leik, join over 45 other barn enthusiasts for a tour of the agricultural heritage of western New York sponsored by the New York Barn Coalition and Preserve Western New York.

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday, our Dutch model barn was quite the draw in the exhibit hall, but then again how could you miss it?

 

 

 

 

 

We are already planning for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference next year in Spokane.

Kids Build Life-Size 3-D Puzzle: 7th Graders Raise a Model Barn

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Teenagers shuffle into the auditorium. They are seated and have a look of disinterest. Keith Cramer, National Barn Alliance board member, asks how many kids have seen a barn. Less than half of the 7th graders raise their hands. Cramer then tells them they are going to raise barn. The looks of disinterest start to turn into looks of curiosity and then excitement.

On October 18, over 200 7th and 8th graders from the Waterfront School in Buffalo, NY, built a model of a “Dutch” barn typically found in New York from 130 wooden pieces using only simple hand tools and without nails.

Teamworks and Timbers is the National Barn Alliance educational outreach program bringing youth face-to-face with America’s disappearing rural heritage and trades. The program is designed to plant the seed for preservation while sharing history and teaching science/engineering/construction skills to youth in grades 4-12.

This program was in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference being held in Buffalo from October 19-22. Stephanie Meeks, President & CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation observed keenly the kids in the building process.

We’d like to thank shop teacher, Quinn Wright, working with us in organizing this program and Principal David Hills for opening his school to us. We

greatly appreciate the support of Buffalo School Superintendent Amber Dixon and Technical Education Director Kathy Heinle.