From oceanside to mountainside
|
On a chilly Jan. 1, 2008, Freddy Nichols and his wife Elizabeth arrived on 200 acres they had purchased in the Shelton Laurel area of Madison County from Virginia Beach, Va.What did they know about the mountains? Only that his mother had grown up here. “But then, we started exploring,” Nichols said.On the property were several barns, and one — measuring 50’ by 50’ square — called for attention. This turn of the century traditional livestock barn (known as the Matt Wallin barn) was later adapted to additionally air cure burley tobacco. Matt Wallin had a sawmill which would explain why the big timbers in that barn were sawn rather than hewn.It was in terrible condition, but Freddy and Elizabeth had a vision: They could transform it into a retreat for children who had cancer. For a week, they could romp among the fields, get near horses and cows, and, free of charge, pretend they had essentially gone to “camp” in the remote, quiet beauty of Western North Carolina. "Before" photos of the inside are below.
In 2009, the renovation began. The first level, with a hardwood floor and two restrooms, will be an open space for community gatherings. An eventual 16’ by 50’ addition will have a kitchen and dining area.
On the second level will be four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. And, plans for the third level call for it to be another open space for relaxation and games.
Primarily handling the work himself with his son Tyler, Nichols removed all the siding, taking care to keep the old beams and hardware on hand for authenticity’s sake.
Then on New Year’s Eve of 2009, a fierce windstorm threatened to take down what remained of the structure. But, despite the assault, it held its own, and Nichols took that as a “message” that the revamping was meant to continue. In 2010, work on the interior began in earnest.
Tragically, in 2018, Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in the fall of that year. She wanted Freddy to continue with their dream. His hope, now, is to complete the project by December 31.
 In September, he opened the structure for “Barn Day” tours, for which the Barn Alliance is most grateful, and he’s happy to share details of his experiences with anyone who might want tips on how to revitalize an old barn. He’s reachable at freddynichols148@gmail.com. |
|
=========================================================================
|
The ABA is proud to be a part of the movement to boost pride in the area’s barn heritage. We have documented (and included in our database) 89 (with 12 partially completed) distinctive barns in Madison County. Sadly, in the last 10 years, we have lost several structures to weather, to age, and, most recently, we “lost” one location that had been included in our Mars Hill self-guided tour; a new property owner had decided to take the barns down.
We celebrate all of you who are striving to retrofit your precious barns for a new use. We would like to encourage you to send us pictures and your contact information so that we can chronicle your story in these Barn Alliance newsletters.
================================================================
|
|
|
Letter from our President
|
|
Our excitement for the year aligns with our joy in watching the new blooms for the spring of the daffodils, forsythia, and quince. Plans for our annual events are blooming. The dates and details are in this issue.
The town of Mars Hill has begun plans to grade the property on the Smith Farm. This is the first step to allow the ABA to reconstruct the barns that were donated to us. We look forward to watching the progress this year.
We are happy to once again hold our annual Art Gala in Weaverville. This time we will be in the beautiful setting of the Community Center at Lake Louise. And, the ABA will offer a new location and some new barns for our annual Barn Day in September. September will also include the return of "The Barns of Madison County" exhibit at the Madison County Arts Council.
And, it is nice to have a few constants in our year. All 4th grade students will again be treated to a field trip to the Smith Farm thanks to the continuing support of First Bank in Mars Hill. You will once again find us at our booth at the Bluff Mountain Festival in June and the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival in October. Stop by and say "hi" and catch up with the latest news.
|
|
_______________________________________________________
The Old Barn “to be preserved, and to be used as an educational tool for people to know what we are all about around here, and where we came from. That’s what this barn is to me, a testament of where I came from. ” - Elaine Ray Thomas
_______________________________________________________
|
|
3rd Annual Art Gala-- Pastoral Palette
 From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 26th, the Appalachian Barn Alliance and the Saints of Paint will once again partner to stage an art gala and fundraiser at the Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lake Shore Drive, Weaverville 28787. An outdoor, covered patio offers a nearby view of Lake Louise.The goal is to honor the distinctive barns and rural landscapes of Western North Carolina and also help preserve, through field trips and guided tours, our rich agricultural heritage. The artists will be on hand to discuss their works.From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 27th, the art will remain on display for all to see, free of charge.For the evening event, dubbed “A Pastoral Palette,” delectable offerings, both savory and sweet, plus complimentary wine and beer, will be available from local establishments. Among them: Fig Bistro and HomeGrown plus Whole Foods in Asheville.Tickets are $45 each ($40 for ABA members.) Reserve your spot now by calling 828-380-9146, inquiring at info@appalachianbarns.org or mailing a check to the Barn Alliance at P.O. Box 1441, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Event sponsors will be allowed an early view of the art at 5 p.m.The Saints of Paint, organized in Asheville in 2014, have supported numerous nonprofit entities over the years by offering to split the proceeds of art sales at fundraising events for Pisgah Legal Services, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Appalachian Wild, RiverLink and others. Ticket sales for the May 26th gathering will benefit the Barn Alliance, as will 50% of the sales on the art work both days.Among the 12 artists: John Mac Kah, the organization’s leader; Dana Irwin, Mark Henry, Bryan Koontz, Carol Parks, Cathy Mandeville, Deborah Squier, Claire Simpson Jones, Mark Harmon, Donny Luke, Jim Ostland, and Tess Darling, a 2013 fine arts graduate of UNC, who will be featured from Marshall. Details about the group are at https://saintsofpaintasheville.orgFor overall details, CLICK HERE |
|
Barn Photo Workshop-- sign up now
|
The Appalachian Barn Alliance is pleased to invite you to a Barn Photography Workshop the weekend of June 9 -10. Led by ABA supporter and Asheville photographer Woody Eisenberg and ABA researcher Taylor Barnhill, the Workshop will be an opportunity for a small group of interested photographers --of all levels of expertise -- to “get up close and personal” with our photogenic historic barns in beautiful Madison County.
Photo by Woody Eisenberg
The Workshop weekend will kick off in Mars Hill Friday afternoon June 9 from 4 to 6pm with Taylor, a local native and professional architect providing an overview of the remarkable history of the farms and barns of Madison County. Additionally, Woody will show examples of some of the photos that first sparked his interest (some of which can be seen at his website: https://www.woodyeisenbergphotos.com) and explaining techniques for making your own beautiful photographs. Saturday, June 10 begins early, at 7:30am as the group departs for a day of guided photography of selected farms and barns, wrapping up about 6pm.
The cost is $150 (or $125 if you are a 2023 ABA member) You can sign up by emailing info@appalachianbarns.org or calling 828 380-9146.
|
|
Friday, May 26 from 5:30pm to 8pm: 3rd Annual Art Gala – “A Pastoral Palette” ticketed event. Benefit sale of art with finger foods and wine. Details in the
article above. Location is the Weaverville Community Center at Lake Louise.
Saturday, May 27 from 11am to 3pm: "A Pastoral Palette" continues and free/ open to the public.
Friday, June 9 & Saturday, June 10: Photo Workshop. Up close and inside barns in the
county. History of each of the barns as you photograph them. Short introduction
on late Friday afternoon. Out all day taking the photos on Saturday.
Saturday, June 10 from 10am to 4pm: Booth at the Bluff Mountain Festival in Hot Springs. Drawing for the quilt raffle at 3pm.
Month of September: "Barns of Madison County" exhibit at the Madison County Arts Council, 90 S Main Street in Marshall. Opening night is Friday, September 1.
Saturday, September 9 from 1pm to 7pm: 8th Annual Barn Tour Day ticketed event. Tour barns in the Upper Laurel area of Mars Hill just off Exit 3 north of the town. Followed by a dinner & music at the Upper Laurel Community Center.
Saturday, October 7 from 10am to 4pm: Booth at the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival on the MHU Quad. Same day as the Madison Heritage Arts Festival on College Street in Mars Hill.
|
|
 Please forward this to an interested friend. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
