Creation of new Bar Harbor preserve featuring a stone barn is underway

FILE PHOTO Maine Coast Heritage Trust purchased Stone Barn Farm in 2019 thanks in large part to over 200 individual donors from Mount Desert Island in pursuit of turning the property into a 128-acre public preserve.

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By Staff

A historic stone barn and associated farmland, in a rural neighborhood outside of downtown Bar Harbor, is the focal point of the creation of a new preserve.

The nonprofit Maine Coast Heritage Trust said Thursday that it has started construction on a 35-space parking lot, begun renovations on the historic barn and hired a community outreach coordinator for the newly named Stone Barn Farm Preserve.

Over 200 donors have contributed to reach a $2.5 million goal for the multi-year project.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust bought the large Bar Harbor property in 2019.

The $625,000 purchase included the namesake stone barn, a carriage house and farmhouse on 128 acres of fields and forests in a rural neighborhood on the outskirts of the town.

The property is near the intersection of Crooked Road and Norway Drive and adjacent to Northeast Creek.

Harvesting hay

It was previously owned for years by Harry and Cindy Owen, whose activities there included harvesting hay for cattle that were kept by the Rockefeller family across the road for many years. They ran a truck gardening operation at the house, growing produce for restaurants on Mount Desert Island and beyond. They also maintained trails and mowed paths and allowed visitors to walk through the meadows and woods.

FILE PHOTO

A view from the meadow trail behind the Stone Barn Farm structures.

The Owen family occupied the farm for five decades.

The farmhouse and barn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The trust purchased a conservation easement on the property in 2001.

The trust launched its capital campaign in 2019 to cover the purchase price and significant expenses associated with long-term maintenance of the structures and anticipated programs for the public.

The sale of the property to the trust was designed to ensure continued public access.

“The Owens had always treated this place as if it were a preserve,” the trust’s regional stewardship manager, Douglas McMullin, said in a news release. “They kept the trails open for everyone. They wanted to ensure that Stone Barn Farm was kept open forever.”

The property includes two miles of hiking trails and more than a mile of shore frontage on Northeast Creek and Fresh Meadow, and offers expansive views of nearby farms. The landscape includes grassy meadows, woods, blueberry bushes and a small farm pond. The property is suited for uses like walking, birding, cross country skiing and ice skating.

According to the National Register of Historic Places, the farmhouse was built around 1850 in the Greek Revival style.

The carriage house was built around 1900 and is sheathed in clapboards. The stone barn was built in about 1907.

The barn is unique in its look and construction. The first floor is made of stone that includes granite from a quarry at Otter Creek and glacial stones from local fields. The second floor is a traditional wood-beamed construction, with a gambrel roof made of tin.

Significant renovations

The trust’s renovations include an expanded parking lot, largely unseen from the road, designed to accommodate up to 35 cars. Construction of the new parking area is expected to be completed by early July.

The next phase of the project is the renovation of the 19th century barn. That’s currently underway and expected to be completed in 2023.

The renovations will maintain the barn’s status on the National Register of Historic Places while making it safer for visitors.

This week, the announced the hire of a community outreach coordinator at the preserve.

Renee Duncan spent the past 11 years working for College of the Atlantic as the director of summer field studies. She will be responsible for looking after the preserve and coordinating community outreach on the property and the MDI region. This is a newly created role at the trust.

Courtesy / Julia Walker Thomas, Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Renee Duncan

“I'm trying to kindle and nourish that little spark we feel when exploring a place like the Stone Barn Farm,” said Duncan. “I hope to illuminate the values and work of those who have cared for this land across generations.”

The preserve is considered to have potential as a resource for educational programming, walking, birding and community events. Since the trust purchased the property, it has continued to be well-used by the local community, including school groups, birders, the MDI Historical Society, scouts and artists.

The trust is drafting a management plan for the preserve and expects to get programming off to a start this summer. The plan includes collaboration with schools, organizations and others in the area to help address local needs and continue to connect people with the property.