HELLO BISMARK BARN SUPPORTERS

Priest Lake, Id Nov 21, 2024.

It is time for our yearly update on the progress we have made on the restoration of the Bismark Barn. The highlights are as follows:

We applied for and received technical assistance from Idaho Heritage Trust. Shannon Sardell, a Historical Architect, completed an extensive site survey of the Barn. Shannon is very supportive of the restoration project and recommended a series of short and long term solutions that need to be undertaken to "save the Barn".

Carlos "Pancho" Landa and I met with our new acting Forest Service Ranger, Jason Stancil about the project. Jason toured the Barn site and has been very supportive of the restoration of the historic building.

Pancho and I have also been in communication with Carmelita Angeles, our Forest Service Archaeologist. Carm is currently assigned to three ranger districts, but has made the time to forward our project to both SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) to get the go-ahead on the next steps in the barn's restoration.

Pancho, Thomas Pell and I met at the barn on a weekly basis this summer/fall and completed the projects that were approved earlier by NEPA. This included removing the trees, weeds and grass growing next to the barn's foundation and moving the dirt away from the barn's sill (bottom) logs and foundation. We also measured each log, board, rafter and window of the 28' X 32' barn. Thomas, a retired Forest Service employee, took hundreds of photos hundreds of measurements and has produced amazing 3D drawings of the barn, which will greatly aid us in the restoration process.

Pancho, Thomas and I met with Brent Morse, a local log cabin contractor, with many years of experience working with log construction. He agreed to join our team and will head up the restoration of the barn. We are very lucky to have him guide us through the process.

Damon Bretthauer, of Northern Lakes Tree Service, is gathering and storing larch logs to replace the rotten barn logs and to also provide the framework for the new hayloft and roof. Damon has also offered to mill the logs as needed.

The big news is that we applied for and received a $15,000.00 grant from the Idaho Heritage Trust. It is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant, and this spring the Museum is planning to send out a letter requesting donations from the community. Our Committee will also be applying for grants from the Innovia Foundation. With funding in hand, we can continue the restoration project after receiving approval from NEPA.

Thank you all for your interest and support of the restoration of this historic barn, which has served the Forest Service and the community for almost 105 years. Please let us know if you have any questions about the Bismark Barn Restoration Project, would like to volunteer at the Barn or make a donation to the project. Donations can made by Pay Pal or by check and sent to the Priest Lake Museum on the website(preistlakemuseum.org) or by mail (P.O Box 44 Coolin, ID 83821).

Bismark Barn Restoration Committee

Kristen Winn

Carlos Landa

Kris Runberg Smith

Thomas Pell

Brent Morse