Farm Progress

This Old Barn: This drive-it-yourself tour offers history and fun activities.

Pamela Whitney Gray

August 27, 2018

3 Min Read
KIRK BARN: The newly built structure is a traditional raised-barn with mortise, tenon and pegged joinery, and a man-made earthen ramp to the mow floor.

Four historic barns are on the route for this year’s Knox County Barn Tour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 8. On this drive-it-yourself tour, barn enthusiasts will not only get to enjoy the history of these barns, but also find music, art competitions for children and adults, food, exhibits, crafts, and a petting zoo.

Kirk Barn
When Karin Kirk and her husband bought the property, it had the ruins of an old barn. Karin wanted a timber-frame barn built in the style of one that once stood on the property east of Mount Liberty.

The newly built structure is a traditional raised-barn with mortise, tenon and pegged joinery, and a man-made earthen ramp to the mow floor.

From its appearance, it could be like any other barn for agricultural use, but the interior is finished for people’s use as well. For the time being though, its first function will be to host the 2018 Knox County Barn Tour.

Overholt Barn
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The 1924 gambrel-roofed Overholt family barn on Green Valley Road is in the heart of Knox County’s agricultural country. The picturesque barn stands out as unique with its covered-bridge entry to the mow floor where hay and straw are stored for use during the winter to feed and bed animals. The children of Jeremy and Traci Overholt will be eager to show you their potbellied pigs, ducks, chickens and cows.

Thompson Barn
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Along state routes 3 and 36 between Mount Vernon and Bangs once stood a forlorn, unpainted old barn sitting close to the highway. In 2009, it was moved 125 feet back from the road and set on a new foundation.

In restoring the venerable old barn, modern amenities such as a kitchen, restrooms and heat were added. Restored, painted red and topped with a cupola, the barn became a gathering place for Janet and Steve Thompson’s extended family. Before long, people were asking to rent it for their own family functions. The barn was featured in the May issue of Ohio Farmer.

Warwick Farm Barn
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The Warwick Farm sits far back from Route 3 north of Mount Vernon. Page Price and husband Greg bought the farm with a pre-Civil War barn, house and outbuildings. Some of the outbuildings have been converted to a bed-and-breakfast and design studio.

The barn is a venue for weddings and events, and twice a year the Rural Society has an antique sale. Visit theruralsocietyat warwickfarm.com for more details about the farm, it’s restoration and current use.

This year, Warwick Farm will host the Plein Air Artists Competition, the Kenyon Dance Department show and a barn dance after the tour. Everyone is welcome.

For more information and tour route, email [email protected] or visit the Knox County Barn Tour’s website at knoxlandmarks.org.

As always, I would love to hear about your barn. Contact me, the Lady Barn Consultant, at [email protected], or visit barnconsultant.com.

Whitney Gray writes from Mount Vernon.

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