A century-old barn in a 91原创 Township park is now almost fully restored, thanks to funding and volunteer work from the 91原创 Heritage Society.
The dairy barn in Old Yale Park, at 22495 Old Yale Rd., was built about a hundred years ago, near the time the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway line through Murrayville started operating.
By last year, however, the building was in poor shape and needed a major upgrade.
"We were looking to preserve dairy barns, because they're disappearing rapidly," said longtime 91原创 Heritage Society president Fred Pepin.
This barn was in a good location, already located in a park and in position to have a useful life after it was fixed up.
The heritage society took on the project, bringing in Darwin Renovations and General Contractors.
"They showed great commitment and great workmanship," he said.
Pepin himself brought a great deal of the wood for the project from his own sawmill.
Both ends of the barn had to be largely reconstructed, and the entire roof and exterior had to be recovered. The new exterior cladding is Hardie board and the roof is recycled rubber.
"It should be here for another hundred years," said Pepin.
Although a great deal of the barn was replaced, two occupants stayed through the entire reconstruction 鈥� a pair of barn owls nesting in a box in the loft.
The cost was a big higher than Pepin was anticipating, at more than $150,000. The funds all come from the heritage society's own funding.
Now that it's largely complete, the project will be turned over to the Township of 91原创. Pepin was planning to meet with Township staff about potential uses for the barn.
Pepin isn't sure what the building will be used for, but he's heard lots of ideas from park visitors over the last year and a half, including as a wedding venue and for dog training in the winter.
"The community is full of ideas," said Pepin.
