The barn in winter.   Photo courtesy of Barnstorming, Inc.

Hoping History Repeats Itself

by Jerry McDowell

EUREKA – A group of Woodford history buffs known as Barnstorming, Inc, have been working hard with the hope that history will repeat itself with the historic Caleb Davidson Barn that they plan to dismantle and rebuild as a cultural center in Eureka.

Built 175 years ago by Eureka’s original settlers, the barn still stands on the Heitzman farm northwest of Eureka.

At 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 14, members of the Woodford County Historical Society and Barnstorming, Inc, will meet members of the public at the Fireside Lounge of Eureka Christian Church, 302 S. Main St., Eureka.  They will share introductory remarks about the barn’s restoration plans, then car pool to the barn site for a guided tour.

The loft area seen when the roof was not covered.  Photo courtesy of Barnstorming, Inc.

“There are two audiences that we’re looking for,” Steve Colburn of Eureka, Barnstorming, Inc., president, said. “One of course are those who would like to help pay for it, but that’s only half of it. We need people who want to use it.

“The Historical Society is one of them. They’ve been with us all along. We want to find other groups that want to use it. You could have an art gallery – all kinds of things; you could have musical performances – anything that you could think of in a community setting.”

Barn seen from the east.  Photo courtesy of Barnstorming, Inc.

Colburn said that the barn was built at a time when there weren’t any public buildings or even a town, and the barn was used for religious and cultural activities. Barnstorming, Inc., therefore, hopes to take it back to its original uses.

A new location has yet to be determined. Colburn said they are hoping to generate excitement and be approached by an individual or group to locate the barn on their site. It needs to be located on a rolling site, as it is a “bank barn” that can be entered on the lower or upper level. It is now on a tributary to Walnut Creek and not accessible from the nearest byway, Mt. Zion Road.

 Rough-hewn trees support the upper structure.  Photo courtesy of Barnstorming, Inc.