Reviving History: Renovations on the Farm with 1800s Barn Doors

Reviving History: Renovations on the Farm with 1800s Barn Door

At Five and a Half North Farm, every renovation tells a story. In this post, we’re sharing one of the unique aspects of our Christmas tree farmhouse renovation and how we integrated part of an 1882 barn into our home.

Though the barn couldn’t be saved, a part of it lives on. The massive wooden doors that once stood proudly at the front of the barn now serve as a striking feature in our farmhouse. We’ve also repurposed towering 9-foot interior doors and sturdy pillars crafted from reclaimed barn beams, each piece carrying a bit of the past into our present.

The barn stood by itself high on a hill, weathered but full of character, and I often dreamed of purchasing it to turn into a home. Deep down, I knew the barn was too far gone to be restored, but hey, a girl can dream, can't she? I spent many hours imagining all of the storms it had been through and how it still managed to stand all these years later. 

Unfortunately, the winds of fate quite literally had other plans, and a powerful storm took it down. I was devastated when I looked out my window to see the once towering barn spread in pieces throughout the corn field.

However, our journey with the barn didn’t end there. As always, when my heart is set on something, I got creative. I knew nothing about the history of the property so I started asking questions and doing research of old farm plot maps. I discovered that the property was held in a trust, so I knew that I may face some hurdles in reaching a contact person. When I found the contact at the bank, the outlook was not good but I decided I did not want to give up. I started wondering how I could convince the trustees to let us be involved. 

The first thing that came to mind was to write a letter from my point of view explaining why I wanted a piece of history but I knew one letter would probably not be enough.

I then contacted Janette Ellens, the wonderful woman who sold us our Michigan property and believed we were "the ones" meant to buy her parents' farm and she also wrote a letter.

After what seemed like waiting forever for an answer, we got the call we were hoping for! We had permission to salvage some of the barn's materials. 

Although a large portion of the barn was spread across the property and into the corn fields we found several beams intact along with 9 foot interior doors and the most amazing part, the exterior doors intact buried under the rubble. 

For several months we dug through the piles organizing and collecting whole pieces of wood until we decided to sell our Illinois home and move to Michigan. We felt slightly disappointed we were not able to finish the entire project but we were able to locate and return the lettering from the front of the barn doors to the trustees. 

Once the barn doors arrived to our Michigan farm, I knew I had found a place where they once again would have purpose. We repurposed the 9 foot doors from the farmhouse and positioned them outside as the entrance to my “secret garden" ” While it may not be a secret for long, the doors are perfectly placed to showcase the most amazing sunsets. 

While the garden and surrounding woods are currently in development, I can already envision its future beauty. This space will be perfect for hosting events, meditating or, simply grounding in nature.

The barn beams have found new life as well. We used them as pillars on the wrap porch, adding rustic charm to our home. Additionally, some of the wood was repurposed for the beams in my upstairs loft bedroom, creating a cozy and inviting space while providing rustic, unique charm.

As I work on the garden, I reflect on the history behind those barn doors and beams. They carry the stories of the past, and now they’re part of a new story.

I can’t wait to share this space with others and invite everyone to experience the magic it will bring.

Stay tuned as we continue to develop our farm, and I’ll share more updates on the garden and upcoming events. Here’s to honoring the past while creating beautiful memories for the future!