When a barn is more than a barn

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: June 22 2018 Strathmore Times

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

Wheatland County has designated the 70 year old Roppel barn as a municipal historic resource. The big hip roof barn is one still in good shape, among others that have partially collapsed or been removed across the province. Many residents will remember childhood rope swings, hauling bales and playing in the loft of barns like these. Photo Courtesy of Roppel family

Wheatland County has designated the 70 year old Roppel barn as a municipal historic resource. The big hip roof barn is one still in good shape, among others that have partially collapsed or been removed across the province. Many residents will remember childhood rope swings, hauling bales and playing in the loft of barns like these.
Photo Courtesy of Roppel family
Howard Roppel is fixing up his barn. Not just any barn, but a 70-year-old hip-roof barn.
Roppel looked for Wheatland County support to designate the barn as a municipal historic resource at the June 5 council.
“This barn was built in 1948 by my father Simon Roppel. He settled in the Rockyford area in 1918. This barn is still functional as a barn and is in very good shape,” said Roppel. “It is a good example of a classic hip-roof barn, with a lean-to, and indicative of barns built in that era. Barns such as this are not built anymore and the ones that remain are generally in poor condition.”
Last summer the family replaced the cedar shake roof and Roppel said he would like to continue restorations to windows and sidewall preservation, ultimately restoring the whole barn. He is taking care to make sure the right procedures are taken to preserve its history. One measure is using boiled linseed oil to rejuvenate iodized wood.
Wheatland County staff said the barn may not qualify for provincial historic significance; but they did consider the barn a good representation of the agriculture and farm history in Wheatland County.
“The vision to build a family farm operation was fundamental to the establishment of many Alberta communities,” said Jeanie Garfly, a heritage preservation consultant. “The additional community benefit of family farms was the manner in which they came together to weather challenges, gain new friendships, and create organizations that built churches, schools and 4-H groups.”
The cost of renovations is expected to be around $56,000. Roppel is not asking for any funding from the county but hopes the designation will allow him to apply for provincial resources.
Council approved the designation.