Island life Page A12
www.Southwhidbeyrecord.com
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 • The South Whidbey Record
Making
history
Island County fair buildings make Heritage Barn Registry BY BETTY FREEMAN Staff reporter
F
Unless steps are taken to preserve rural buildings, they’re going to disappear,” Goodall added. In order to be considered, agricultural buildings need to have been built prior to 1960. While there are no restrictions made on the nominated barns’ owners, Goodall said the intent of the Heritage Barn program is to honor the building and to encourage preservation. “A positive result of getting a building named to the registry is that the owners will then be encouraged to preserve and take care of them,” said Goodall. “Some of the barns on Ebey’s Prairie have been named to the state historic register, and
or nearly 75 years, the Pole Building at the Island County Betty Freeman / The Record Fairgrounds has been the first buildLocal historians Bob Waterman and Harrison Goodall pose in front of the Pole Building, recently named ing fairgoers encountered to the Washington State Heritage Barn Registry. when they passed through the gates. Recently, the iconic Pole Building and 13 other rustic ager Gust Skarberg in 2001, and public buildings in commu“It was originally held in barns on the fairgrounds were accommodates the Whidbey nities across the country. Coupeville starting in 1912, named to the Washington State Island Fair offices, a large “There’s an extraordinary then it was relocated to Langley Heritage Barn Registry. auditorium, in 1917, and was The Island County smaller multiheld at the Langley Fairgrounds is the first in purpose rooms marina from 1917 the state to have all its barns and storage to 1922,” said listed on the Washington State areas, and an Waterman. “They Registry. independent had exhibits in “I believe it’s the first fairsmall theatre. the dance pavilion grounds in the country to have Currently, there.” all its buildings nominated,” the Whidbey After the said Harrison Island Fair marina was Goodall, local Harrison Goodall Association is sold, the fair historian and Historian sponsoring a moved to the Island County fund drive to high school Historical restore and grounds until Museum renovate the the current board memPole Building’s site was purber who was quality of craftsmanship in kitchen to make it more appealchased. instrumental these buildings. The builders ing as a year-round, community In 1934, local builder in having the took care in their design and gathering place. Al Melsen advanced fair buildings implementation,” said Goodall. Fair Administrator Sandey the fair association named to the “The Pole Building is historiBrandon said, “The Island $300 for the six-acre Washington cally significant both for its con- County Fair Association chicken ranch on the Heritage Barn received a $50,000 grant fairgrounds’ current site. nection with the WPA and the registry. Photo courtesy of the Whidbey Island Fair Association fair, an important part of the from the Washington State Seven more acres were Goodall has Whidbey Island community for Department of Agriculture to eventually added. The Pole Building when it was first completed in worked to have more than a century.” upgrade the kitchen’s infraThe Pole Building was 1937. several local Using mainly native materials structure, but we need to raise the first building on the barns named $75,000 more from the communew fair site. In 1935, the such as peeled fir poles, Pole to the Heritage Building workers raised the nity for appliances, cabinets and WPA (Works Progress Barn Registry, some owners have received walls and spanned a large open fixtures.” Administration) paid for mateincluding the Oak Harbor state grants for restoration and space with log trusses. The “It’s an honor to have these rials and local labor to build Roller Barn, the Comstock preservation efforts,” Goodall river rock chimney, which once historic buildings put on the the then-largest pole structure Barn on Ebey’s Prairie and the continued. was used for the kitchen’s wood registry, and it makes us more in the U.S. The construction Smith Barn at Willowood Farm. South Whidbey Historical cook stove, features a small star determined to preserve and of the Pole Building provided “I think I’ve nominated about Society member Bob Waterman pattern in the upper portion. A protect them,” said Brandon. employment to local workers 50 local barns for the honor,” said the Island County Fair rustic wooden chandelier lights “We’re all stewards of our fair for almost two years. said Goodall. (now known as the Whidbey the auditorium space. buildings.” The WPA put millions of “I’m interested in preserving Island Fair) is one of the oldest Today the Pole Building, Americans to work building the rural historic landscape. in Washington. renamed for former fair mancapital projects such as roads
“A positive result of getting a building named to the registry is that the owners will then be encouraged to preserve and take care of them.”