New buildings are not always improvements on the old. In this country, we are accustomed to demolishing structures which we consider to be old, obsolete or too much in need of repair. All too frequently we demolish the old without considering its value historically, esthetically or architecturally and erect a new building. In the Town of Sweden there are some "noble buildings" that are symbols of the way people once lived and worked and which enrich the surroundings, buildings in which individuals can learn about the history of the community and grow to appreciate the contributions of their ancestors. In order to record the treasures of the past that are still standing in the community, a group of volunteers will be working with the Town of Sweden historian to establish an archive of both the existing and non-existing barns which have been built here. Over the next year, they will be taking pictures of barns, talking to barn owners and recording the history of the barns and the farms on which they stand. Individuals who have any pictures to share or a knowledge of the history of your farm or barn, it would be appreciated if you could share it with the volunteers when they come to your barn. Sometimes this spring, photographers may be taking pictures from the road. This will be the first phase of the project. After that step, the determination of which barns should be surveyed first will be made and volunteers will contact the owners to get permission to take pictures of the barn at a closer distance, and will ask you to fill you a survey or to answer some questions about the barn and will inquire about its history. For information contact Kathy Goetz, Town of Sweden historian at 637-5546. submitted material April 29, 2007 |
