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This article was written by Lisa Burghardt, president of the Historical Society of Easton.
EASTON, Conn. Come walk in and around five historic barns in Easton during the Historical Society of Easton's Second Annual "Treasured Barns of Historic Easton" tour on Sunday, Sept. 25.
This event will raise funds for restoration of a circa 1860 English barn that serves to educate adults and children about Easton's rich agricultural history. Supported by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the 1772 Foundation, The Historical Society of Easton is working to preserve the barn on the 3 ½- acre Bradley-Hubbell property. The English-style barn was once a working barn housing horses, farm equipment and feed for the Bradley and Hubbell families, who were the only two families to live on the property.
The "Treasured Barns of Historic Easton" Barn Tour will include five historic and restored barns in Easton. The tour will start at the Bradley-Hubbell Museum on 535 Black Rock Road in Easton at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Barns on this tour feature five outstanding examples of different styles of classic New England barns. Each barn on the tour was selected for its contribution to our understanding of Easton's history. Barns are unique in that they, unlike houses, tell the story of both the owner and the land. Two of the barns on the tour are located near the borders of Weston and Fairfield, which expands our knowledge of Eastons history near the borders.
The Bradley-Hubbbell Barn is on the tour this year to showcase its unique architectural features and highlight the restoration efforts that began in June. What makes this barn so unique is that we have first-hand accounts of the construction and use of the barn and lands surrounding the property. We know this because of a rare manuscript, written by descendent John Dimon Bradley, who recounts his memories of living on the property as boy in the 19th century. The manuscript has since been edited and bound into a book, which is for sale during the tour.
Visitors on the tour will receive a map and a brochure describing in detail the historic use, significance and changes in use of the barns. Architectural features and timber frame construction will be highlighted by docents at each site. At the Bradley-Hubbell site, artwork of historic buildings and landscapes in Easton will be on display and for sale. A portion of the sale of the art will be used to help fund Phase IV and V of the Bradley-Hubbell Barn restoration, which is planned for the summer and fall of 2012. Fall is a fabulous time to visit the Town of Easton. The beauty of the changing leaves, apple picking, pumpkins and our barn tour provide a full day of fun for all folks.
Tour tickets for adults are $25, children are free. For more information, check us out on www.facebook.com/HSEastonCT, via email at HSEastonCT@gmail.com or by calling (203) 581-0850. Tickets can be ordered through the mail by sending a check to the Historical Society of Easton, P.O. Box 121, Easton, CT 06612.
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