Paul Hayden says: Grants to restore private property are almost non-existent.   If you would like for me to stop by to do a building assessment,  would be glad to do so. We often get a request to look at older buildings to determine if there are problems or inappropriate changes. This request comes most commonly after a new owner has purchased a historic property and has little knowledge of its condition. Since you seem to be very aware of issues with your property, this might not be very useful. BTW, I am booked for most of this week and then will  be on vacation until Jan. 8th. Let me know if you would like for me to do a site visit after I return. Happily, I have an appointment with Tim today to look at the barn. Fingers crossed that it finds a new loving home and we receive the funds of which we are in need. <3

Hello everyone! Kyle, thanks for posting these pictures. Tim, I look forward to showing it to you in person next week. If you'd be interested in relocating it to your property, this would be so wonderful! Let's all pray in the depth of our hearts for the best outcome for all involved. I know we have a treasure here. My heart ached as each year went by and the barn fell a little more. I felt so helpless. I was looking for an organization to help us and I think I found IBF in the nick of time. The President Andrew Jackson connection may be a tall tale because I can't find any tie with his family and the state of Indiana by doing a google search. However I can confirm that the famous Indiana painter Bob Weaver lived here for many years. He may have died on this property too. We shall see how the cookie crumbles in the next several weeks / months as far as the fate of this historic structure and we shall hope that nothing else crumbles in the meantime.

This is great news, Danielle, Thank you so much. That would greatly help us.

Sure. Call me today sometime to make arrangements 765-878-4950 (landline) or leave a text at 765-460-6309.

I met yesterday with Kyle Clifton who photographed the barn. We agreed that it was likely about a $40,000 job to fix it which is way more than the $5,000 which the matching grant can provide. Sadly that kind of restoration money is an impossibility for us. The best would be if someone wants a barn on their property and would like to move it there and supplement the remainder funding to fill in the holes. All in all the beams are largely intact. Holes in the roof and skin and rotted out floor in some places. Perhaps Kyle can share his photos with you. He's going to refer me to some folks who may be interested in claiming the wood for a decent price. Of coure we'd like to restore it. I simply don't see how it can be done without a historic barn-loving benefactor. Supposedly this homestead was built by president Andrew Jackson although he rarely lived here. Famous Indiana artist Bob Weaver lived here for many years and painted many paintings in the house. Kyle was surprised he had no idea it was here. We are open to meeting with IBF volunteers who can help or even who want to look. We are in the last year or so of it still standing. The weather is claiming it before my very eyes.

Yes, this is what we want. Please email me directly at spiritunion@gmail.com to set up an appointment. We don't have expendable income so if a full grant is possible, this would be ideal. It is part of a historic homestead.