Phoenix Rises in North Hero --
The Future Home of Island Arts

Are you curious as to what is happening at the Homer Knight Barn on Route 2 at the south end of North Hero? What has it looking as if a bomb had hit it?

Not to fear, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the barn will rise from the rubble in the hands of a good man well-educated in old barn preservation: Eliot Lothrop of Building Heritage. His understanding of barn styles, beams, woods, and detail of construction is extraordinary. Based on old bolt holes on major beams, old doors will be replaced where they were. The carefully carved initials of Byrd Knight are still on the main mow entrance. Though hard to see now with the racks supporting the barn, all the upper beam restoration was done last fall.

Now the underpinnings are in the spotlight. Removal of the cow stanchions with very uneven flooring will make way for a large open floor space, divisible as wanted with the presence of the main support beams and a replaced pair of doors indicated by bolt holes and upper door “stop.” Original stonework will be preserved. Although the barn looks overly air conditioned at present, proper siding will be installed. All this should end up with a well and properly preserved barn.