There are five structures on the Civil War-era Shafer Farm property located in Frederick County that would have served distinct purposes for the running of a farm business and household. Preservation Maryland and the Burkittsville Preservation Association have recently turned their attention the large barn on the east end of the property.
In November, Preservation Maryland organized a site visit to the property by preservationists and architects from Quinn Evans Architects and Durable Slate, and engineers from Keast & Hood – because of the historical significance and poor condition of the main house, much of the focus was placed there to address immediate needs before the snow flies this winter.
BARN PRESERVATION
In mid-December, Preservation Maryland was back on site to join representatives from Burkittsville Preservation Association for a coordinated visit to assess the historic wooden barn with senior staff from the Frederick-based National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center that specializes in historic tradework and hands-on material preservation.
While on site Tom Vitanza, Senior Historical Architect and Moss Rudley, Deputy Superintendent, of the Historic Preservation Training Center, inferred that the barn may have been substantially altered to accommodate new technologies over time, like a running pulley for moving hay bales along with an array of interior repairs. They also offered short-term solutions to some of the barn’s major issues, including water penetration from a leaky roof. Some measures may be as simple as plywood sheeting and interior scaffolding but a major rehabilitation could be up to $750,000 in costs.
Can you help preserve the Shafer Farm property?
As part of our Six-to-Fix program, Preservation Maryland committed to assist the Burkittsville Preservation Association with planning a comprehensive stabilization, preservation, and interpretive plan for the Shafer Farm property because of the significance of the property as a witness to the Civil War and it’s largely intact detailed interior wood work – more over, the Burkittsville Preservation Association, now owners of the property, are strong local partners. How can you help?