‘Barn Again’ workshop and tour for historic barn owners slated Oct. 6

The Nichols barn in Putnam County will be part of the tour when Putnam County hosts the Barn Again workshop and tour Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Putnam County Museum from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Courtesy photo

Indiana is rich in historic barns that require adaptation to shelter today’s huge agricultural equipment or to suit a new purpose. Across Indiana, barns of all ages and types have been rehabbed for farming and repurposed as houses, businesses, event venues and more.

On Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Putnam County Museum in Greencastle, Indiana Landmarks will offer “Barn Again,” a workshop to help owners maximize use of vintage barns.

“If you own or aspire to acquire an old barn, or you’re concerned about preserving Indiana’s rural heritage, you’ll gain lots of useful information at the Barn Again Workshop and Tour,” organizer Tommy Kleckner, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Western Regional Office, said.

Experts will offer practical solutions on how to maintain, rehabilitate and adapt old barns for today’s needs.

Rick Collins of Trillium Dell Timberworks in Knoxville, Ill., will show how barn owners can rehab a barn for continued use. Other speakers will cover basic barn types prevalent in Indiana and financial incentives and technical assistance available to barn owners.

The workshop experts will also discuss Indiana’s 100 percent property tax deduction for heritage barns — barns built before 1950 that retain structural integrity and are not being used for farming or business purposes. Barns used for storage or 4-H-type projects qualify for the incentive.

An afternoon tour will visit three historic Putnam County barns — a vacant 19th-century three-portal barn in need of a new use, an early 20th-century dairy barn converted to a sawmill operation and an early 20th-century gambrel-roof barn that remains in agricultural use.

The workshop and tour takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes lunch.

Based on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Barn Again program, the workshop is sponsored by Indiana Landmarks and Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County in partnership with Indiana Barn Foundation, Putnam County Convention and Visitor Bureau, Putnam County Community Foundation, Purdue Extension Putnam County and the Putnam County Museum.

The workshop will be held at Putnam County Museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle. Cost for the day-long workshop is $25. Members of Indiana Landmarks and Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County receive a discount.

Reservation deadline for the Barn Again workshop is Oct. 2. Register online at www.indianalandmarks.org or contact Indiana Landmarks at 800-450-4534.

For details about the agenda, fees and barn tour, visit www.indianalandmarks.org.