The Barn at Red Gate Farm

I think what really sold my husband on this place, wasn't the 20 acres, wasn't the chicken coop and certainly was not the house.  What sold him was the barn.

Our house was built in 1920 or so, records aren't that great from that era.  The barn seems to have likely come a little later.  The family we bought Red Gate Farm from has been great at sharing old pictures with us.















Like this one of the barn, probably from the 40's or 50's.  The Honrud Family, which we purchased our farm from, was the second family to own Red Gate Farm.  The Honrud "sons" in their late 60's up to 80's are who owned it when we bought the farm.  Their parents, Ludwig and Bea, moved here early in the 40's.  The beautiful Mother's Day Rhododendron I have shown before, well Ludwig bought that for Bea.  Sadly, Ludwig went out to the barn to check on the cows one day and died, in the barn, it was a heart attack.  Bea lived here for many more years.  Her youngest son, Stan lived here until the 60's when he married and moved "across the street", were he still lives with his wife Betty.  Stan's older brothers all moved back to Montana and sometime in the later 70's, Red Gate Farm became a rental home. 

















One night early in 2004, the southeast corner of the barn gave way under the weight of hay left on the second floor.  The barn had fallen into disrepair. 























When we came along in the summer of 2004, it was again a rental property.  We moved in a week before Christmas 2004.






















My husband and son quickly set about cleaning up debris, blackberries, hay, dead rodents, you name it..


















Getting ready to restore the barn to  her former glory..


















Load after load of beams and wood... hours and hours of work.




















All came tumbling down, in one November windstorm.

















Another clean up began.



















A new barn rising from the same footprint of the old.

















As you can see, many a season went by.

















Early in 2010, the shell was complete.


















I'm thinking, Summer of 2011, will all be about the paint.  Barn red paint that is... but I think me and my paint brush will be staying on the lower half.

Happy Friday,
Chris at Red Gate Farm

linking this up to
Verde Farm's brand new linky party

Comments

  1. Wow, now that's a transformation! Just gorgeous! I want to live at Red Gate Farm!

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  2. What a beautiful barn and what an interesting story! I just love old barns. I actually have a barn blog myself! My parents owned a 10 acre ranch down near Vista, CA and I spent many, many weekends there as a child. We never lived there (they both worked in Los Angeles), but we went there on weekends. I rode many horses there as a child. You've done a beautiful job on the new barn! I can't wait to see it barn red!

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  3. If we get up your way this summer (hubby wants to drive up to WA), may we stop by?

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  4. I love your barn... I really want one, on day. Only have 3 acres, so it will have to be alittle barn, lol

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  5. What a labour of love - I look forward to seeing that red paint job!

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  6. What a great old barn and a wonderful story. I love old barns ~ brings back memories of my grandparents.

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  7. The old barn was a beauty...I love barns. And that one looks a bit like the one on my dad's farm where I grew up. But the new one is a beauty, too. Great story!

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  8. A sweet labor of love... That must have been a sad, sad day after that November wind storm, but the end result is proof of what strong determination and willpower get you..now, a beautiful barn to be proud of. Can't wait to see it with it's red coat on.

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  9. Oooh how beautiful!... I LOVE barns, infact there was a blog party I joined last year called Barn Chicks, hopefully Karen at Brayton Homestead Interiors will be hosting it again this year, I know everyone would love to see your barn! You have done a wonderful job on it!...can't wait to see more pics!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  10. You are lucky to have all those great old photos. And a cool barn!

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  11. My grandparents were dairy farmers in Tillamook Oregon. I spend many happy hours playing with my cousins in the big barn they had. Memories that will stay with me always...

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  12. Now that is determination! The old barn had a wonderful history and your new one will do the same. Congratulations for overcoming the problems you had and moving onward.
    Can't wait to see the barn RED and I want a photo of you painting!
    Jan

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  13. It's my dream to come across a falling down barn where the wood is no longer wanted!! It would be stored neatly in my shop awaiting wonderful creations...and waiting...and waiting.... cuz while I have big plans, they usually remain in my mind!!!

    Your barn is so pretty! Are you going to have a barn painting party???? What fun that would be!

    I thought of you today as I am not going to the Funky Junk show because I don't want to go all that way by myself...just not as fun. Should have called YOU!!!!

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  14. Wouldn't Ludwig & Bea be so happy to know you rebuilt their beautiful barn. You have done an amazing job! It will look amazing red. Course, I'm partial to RED! Got a paint sprayer? We picked up an old rental unit from a paint store when I painted our house and garage red.

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  15. Wow, that's gorgeous! Great job on refurbishing and rebuilding that great old barn. :)

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  16. I love old barns...they are one of my favorites to shoot pics of. I have been wanting a barn for a long time.....maybe one of these days!
    Thanks for sharing....it is is an interesting story.

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  17. I to love photographing old barns . I also love red barns as well theres just something about them I cant explain! Loved your post and photos, the new barn looks great, cant wait to see it painted ! Have a wonderful day !

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  18. There is nothing more glorious than the rebirth of an old barn. You have really done an outstanding job.
    Our beloved barn burnt to the ground December 18th and took our only tractor and 2 water pumps with it. The cows survived. I look forward to a barn raising later this year.
    Come visit the herd when you have a chance:
    www.tailgait.blogspot.com

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  19. This old barn is so very cool!...what part of Washington do you live in? I'm here too! Looks like a lot of work to get to the new barn you have - but i'm sure you will love it!

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  20. What a gorgeous barn. Sooooo much red paint. Will look forward to seeing the barn all painted. Although it still looks wonderful in its natural state.

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  21. I love your barn. Truly. I've always wanted an old red barn so that I could plant vintage flowers around it. My husband finds that frivolous. It just makes sense to me. Paint it red, Chris. Then plant sunflowers and hollyhocks and Shasta daisies under the windows. Do it for me. You'll be living my dream. Thanks for sharing! P.S. A Pennsylvania Dutch Hex would be great too!

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  22. Chris, you have outdone yourself lady, this is one of my favorite posts yet from RGF. I know that Ludwig and Bea are so happy to see you restoring that barn on it’s original footprint. Do you ever feel like the owners that have passed on share a sweet spirit at your place because they love what you are doing to take care of the place? I feel that way here. I adore your barn and I can’t wait to see it painted either--it will be gorgeous!
    Happy weekend.
    Hugs, Amy

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  23. What a fantastic story! I grew up on a farm and I appreciate barns so much. It is so great that you rebuilt a barn out of wood instead of metal. It looks fantastic!

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  24. Chris...You outdid yourselves restoring this barn! Absolutely beautiful! We have two old barns...over 100 years old, and a new barn (built in a992). Keeping a good roof on them has been the key to their staying in good shape. Nice blog!

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  25. I love the fact that you know so much of the history of your property and that some former owners still live across the street! Great references! The first home I ever owned was a century home in a small rurual community outside of Toronto. We actually had a former owner come back and knock on our door and ask for a tour. She had lived there over 50 years prior as a child! I wanted to keep her! lol
    Your photos and history are simply fascinating but the barn restoration is AMAZING! Talk about a labour of love! I think you'll be needing a sprayer as oppossed to a paintbrush for the final chapter! I'm getting soooo excited ~ vacation day is fast approaching! xox

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  26. What a beautiful barn! It's nice to have the history of the place.

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  27. just stoppin' by from the friday farmer blog hop. these are some great shots of your barn. My grandparents have a farm with a big red barn which your pics remind me of. Happy to be your newest follower!

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  28. that barn is dreamy! love it before and love it after!
    blessings,
    olivia

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  29. I loved hearing the hisotry of your property and the family who lived there before you, Chris. I know I've told you before that I LOVE your barn!! Your husband and son did a fabulous job of restoring it and beyond! Thanks for sharing with us!
    ~ Jo :)

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  30. We have a similar story here. While I love the land and the location works for us and I had always dreamed of a 100 year old house. it was the barns which sealed the deal.
    Sadly, our larger barn is in the same disrepair yours was in and after we had been here a year a section also tumbled to the ground. I need to do a post about it. There is a Barn Charm party on Monday evenings at Bluff Area daily blog. I will be joining this week for the first time. And, like Julie Marie (above) I am a Barn Chick.

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  31. Wow...your barn is amazing...great job! It's going to look wonderful painted red! ~Deb~

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  32. FANTABULOUS work & it's GORGEOUS!!! I see some have already mentioned Barn Charm... I so wish you'd link up & let everyone over there see this wonderful post! We'd love to have ya join in!!! =)

    Have a great week

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  33. I am sorry to have missed this last week. How great that you are restoring this barn! I hate to see them fall. Good job!

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  34. How wonderful for your husband to have his dream come true!

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Please, feel free to leave a comment... it really makes my day! Chris

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