Historic County Barns Honored by Annual Awards
King County Executive Ron Sims has presented awards to the owners of two historic barns for their efforts to preserve beautiful remnants of King County's fast disappearing agricultural heritage. As part of National Preservation Month, the City of Auburn and the
Auburn-based White River Valley Museum were honored for working toward the
transformation of the barn of the Mary Olson Farm into an education center
for the historic site. And Carnation resident Roger Thorson was recognized for his care of the barn at the Andrew and Bergette Hjertoos Farm, once owned by his great-grandparents. Both barns are on the National Register of Historic Places. The 2006 John D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation were sponsored by the King County Landmarks Commission in partnership with Preservation 4Culture.
 Mary Olson Barn: The 3,100-square-foot, 1897 hay barn on the Mary Olson Farm near Auburn is part of a 60-acre homestead in a secluded, wooded site along the Green River. The farm is a rare combination of historic agricultural buildings and two indigenous salmon runs. Assisted in part with a $5,000 4Culture Landmark Rehabilitation Program grant in 2005, the barn will be an education center in an outdoor museum and environmental education facility owned by the City of Auburn and operated by
the White River Valley Museum. The barn and the farm represent one of the best preserved family farmsteads in King County.
 Hjertoos Barn: Built around 1910, the Hjertoos Barn was considerably larger than most Snoqualmie Valley barns of its era. It was constructed on a concrete foundation, had a full hay loft, and used a new system of dimensioned lumber in combination with traditional hewn timber framing. In 2005, 4Culture awarded the owners a $6,700 4Culture Landmark Rehabilitation Program grant to assist with restoration. Now the offices and gift shop of the Carnation Tree Farm, the distinctive blue-gabled structure is one of the most recognizable historic icons in an area under continuous pressure for urban development.
In addition to presenting its awards, the Landmarks Commission unveiled a program aimed at preserving remaining examples of historic county barns. Urban development and the changing economics of farming have threatened King County's agricultural heritage, including the loss of large dairy barns that once served as rural landmarks. The "Barn Again" Initiative will include financial and other incentives to encourage property owners to restore the barns and re-use them in ways that ensure long-term preservation.
For more information on the Spellman Awards and the Barn Again Initiative, contact Julie Koler, King County Historic Preservation Officer, 206-296-8689, julie.koler@metrokc.gov.
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