Paul and Joy Shewan were recently honored by the Chili Historical Preservation Board for their restored barn at 36 Attridge Road in Chili.
Soon after they moved to their house in 2001, they were faced with a dilemma – whether to tear down the existing barn and replace it with another structure, or to try to find a workman to bring the barn back to its former glory. They chose the latter because their instinct to preserve a part of Chili history was stronger than the idea to demolish.
After selecting a carpenter to straighten the leaning barn, it became a time consuming task over many, many months. The barn now stands upright and with a golden luster greeting passersby down Attridge Road.
Members of the Preservation Board had investigated the barn earlier, and found Paul and Joy Shewan to be worthy recipients of the Appreciation and Recognition Award for their mammoth effort to retain a piece of Chili’s past.
