I’ve had a number of people ask me what is the deal with the pictures of barns on our website. Isn’t this about making more house rentals available to those in need? The short answer is yes, but one of the reasons this project has long-term viability is our attempt to provide housing options that have a bit of flavor, rather than just your run-of-the-mill rentals.
I grew up in Vermont and am proud of the fact I have never lived anywhere but New England. Being raised in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, half of my friends grew up on dairy farms. Visiting them as a kid, we had the whole farm to play on, especially the barn. I fell in love with the grandeur of these buildings and the sense of wonder they inspired in me. While I was not raised on a farm, the white house and red barn combo my family lived in cemented my love of the barn.
Years later, my wife and I purchased our first home in North Conway. I actually like to say we bought a barn that happened to come with a house. It was a beautiful 1800s farmhouse with wraparound porch, but the star of the show was the barn. It was made of 50ft 12×12 beams, super wide pine planks, and always took my breath away when I went inside. I had plans to convert the interior to livable space, a climbing wall, and an indoor jungle gym, but then life got in the way and we sold the property when our family expanded.
I see barns as quintessential New England. I am always inspired when I see one that has withstood the test of time and stands proud despite the elements. If we lose this classic piece of Yankee architecture, we will lose part of our identity. I want to preserve these behemoths, but also find a way to recycle them into modern use. This will take significant effort and funding to make happen, but we cannot lose this part of our culture.
This is a long-term plan for The Local Housing Project. Restoring a barn to glory will not be an easy task and will require a large deal of coordination. I have a lot to learn in the meantime and plan to start small by rehabbing single family homes or small duplexes before undertaking the rehabilitation of a barn. In the meantime, here’s a taste of what could be. This renovation occurred over the past decade on one of my favorite bike ride routes. I imagine that children who grow up in a place like this would have the same sense of wonder I had as a child during their whole childhood. This is an opportunity I would like to provide to as many kids and families as I can.
