Griswold Barn, Blind Bay, Shaw Island

Along with changes in Fall foliage and the bringing in of the harvest, October offers the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful restorations of some old island barns.  The Griswold Barn on Blind Bay, Shaw Island, is a great example: originally built for dairy operations, the structure has been carefully restored, with reinforced foundations and new flooring, roofing, and locally-milled cedar siding on three sides.

Barn Doors, Hay Rail, and Weathervane

Oriented north-south, the structure measures 30′ wide by 64′ long, and is almost 30′ high.  It has an upper loft with hay door, rail, and trestle, and a lower floor that once had milking stanchions.  Former owners Geb and John Nichols used the barn for their sheep, turkeys, produce, canning, feed, and hay, as well as Red Devon Cows, a rare breed that they were reestablishing.  The barn is currently used to support hay, apple, and quince production.

So let’s celebrate the harvest with special thanks to those who work hard to restore our historic barn legacy!