Round barn being built inside museum

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Mike Stone carries a piece of the round barn Friday at the Putnam County Museum. Stone volunteered his time to help LeRoy Zeiner, on the ladder, and Zeiner's grandson, Eric Pence build a replica of Sutherlin's round barn. The barn is part of Putnam County Museum's "Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Everyone Over," which opens April 4.

Dreams are becoming a reality at the Putnam County Museum.

Since the planning of the museum's move three years ago, there was a vision of a replica of the Sutherlin family's round barn.

The pace is slow, but nail-by-nail the downscaled model of Sutherlin's round barn is taking shape. It is just a skeleton of wood right now, but with the talents of LeRoy Zeiner and the help of many volunteers it will be a miniature duplicate of the real round barn.

Laminated beams are what help give it the circular shape. The same type of wood used to build the original is being used to create its downscaled version -- rough sawn poplar.

Before it was demolished in 1992, the Sutherlin round barn was once a playhouse to Rea (Sutherlin) Zeiner. Her parents, Roy and Lenore Sutherlin owned the farmland from 1935 to 2000, when Rea inherited it.

Rea and her husband John have sponsored the baby version of her family's round barn at the museum. The floor-to-ceiling barn is expected to be completed for the opening of "Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Everyone Over: Our Past Through Play" April 4 at the museum.

Assistant director of the museum Tanis Monday wanted the public to know if they watch their step in the construction area, local student art is still on display. The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

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  • I really should take my family to the museum. I think that guy who is volunteering is a good man to do that.The museum sounds like a neat place to go. I don't really remmember the round barn that much, but it is so cool to know that there will be a replica of it to go and see. Good job putnam county..

    -- Posted by yourdaddy on Sat, Mar 14, 2009, at 8:58 AM
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