Support the Restoration of this Historic Unity Barn

Help us save this Unity, Maine community landmark! We are in the process of rehabilitating this historic barn. We're taking the barn apart and putting it back together again. Your contribution will support the restoration of the 1830s timber frame.

The timber frame of this historic barn dates from the 1830s. The old histories of Unity say this property was owned by revolutionary war hero Lemuel Bartlett and is one of the oldest farms in Unity. The Bagley Family purchased the property in the 1940s and farmed through the 1980s. More recently, it was used for milk distribution.

Over the course of the next two years, we are deconstructing the barn, rebuilding the granite foundation, and restoring the timber frame of the barn. We are reusing materials for the floor and walls and adding additional structural support, a new roof, and new windows and sheathing. Our goal is to create a three-season space that can be used by the community. We welcome your suggestions.

We decided to completely rebuild the barn rather than do targeted repair to celebrate the art of joinery and ensure the barn’s future for another two centuries. The process is costly, but we believe this is the right approach. We are relying on local craftsmen and locally sourced materials. We welcome donations in support of this effort. Any contribution will help.

Timber and barn restoration

Haystack Joinery

Haystackjoinery.com

Freedom, Maine

Rivo Vihman

Stonework

Joe Thierault

Two Scholars Farm

Ben Jacks & Peggy Shaffer

We are just beginning our work of cleaning up the property, restoring the land, and community farming. And we are looking forward to the future.

“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” (Rabindranath Tagore)