ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Over 250 Tour Goll Homestead Barn





Alice Geiger, Archbold, center, talks with Martha Julliard, left, while Debbie David, president of the Goll Homestead Board of Directors, looks on during the Goll Homestead Barn open house, Saturday, Oct. 9. Julliard was born in the house at the homestead; her grandfather, a member of the Goll family, was born in the house Oct. 22, 1862, the day the family moved into the house. More than 250 people toured the barn during the open house event. –photo by David Pugh

Alice Geiger, Archbold, center, talks with Martha Julliard, left, while Debbie David, president of the Goll Homestead Board of Directors, looks on during the Goll Homestead Barn open house, Saturday, Oct. 9. Julliard was born in the house at the homestead; her grandfather, a member of the Goll family, was born in the house Oct. 22, 1862, the day the family moved into the house. More than 250 people toured the barn during the open house event. –photo by David Pugh

Kris Jemmott, treasurer of the Friends of Goll Homestead, said 254 people toured the Goll Homestead Barn, Saturday, Oct. 9.

“That’s quite a lot for a little three-hour open house,” she said.

She said some people who wanted to tour the barn couldn’t find it, after another area newspaper published incorrect directions.

The house and barn, which date back to the 1860s, were saved after it was discovered the State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources planned to burn the two structures.

The friends group was formed in 2001. The open house marked the completion of a $260,000 project to stabilize the barn and make it open to visitors.

Ted Ligibel, a nationallyrecognized expert on barns, gave several talks on barn construction, and the historical significance of the barn.

Jemmott said the plan is to have the barn open to visitors again once or twice next spring, summer, and fall, “after the mud season,” she said.

The group is willing to offer the barn as an educational resource to college, high school, and elementary schools.

The group’s next project is to convert the original homesite into an educational center for students and teachers.

The friends are trying to raise money to renovate it. Jemmott said there is money left from a $20,000 grant from the Bryan Area Foundation, which was used to stabilize the home, to prevent further decay.

The Friends of Goll Homestead board will meet next month to discuss the project, she said.

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