Swiss Heritage barn to be part of international Skypefest

Authored by Jim Langham on Jul 26, 2010

A poster board filled with pictures showing the moving of the Swiss Heritage barn from the Edwin Nussbaum farm to Swiss Heritage Village on May 22, 1993, is only a small part of a display honoring the Schweitzer barn with a cantilever “fore bay” on August 7 when genuine Swiss designed barns will be featured in an international skyping event.
Swiss Heritage Village executive director Gretchen Lehman noted recently that the local barn has been invited to be part of a “Celebration of Swiss Barns” in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland.
Lehman said that she has been informed by Jim Scherrer, president of the International Bundesbrief Society, that on that day people throughout the world will celebrate the structure and architecture of Swiss barns as families, architects, historians and those with Swiss roots seek to increase their knowledge of each other.
“These structures speak volumes about the people, places, events and beliefs of those who constructed them and utilized them to support their lifestyles,” Scherrer wrote to Lehman. “They were ‘cutting edge technology’ in their day, much like Google, Facebook and Apple iPad are leaders today.”
Lehman said through the technological knowledge of Taylor student Ian Bauman, a highly sophisticated system of worldwide communication possibilities, including skyping, will be available from 10 to 11 a.m. to allow those who wish to communicate with
people of Swiss roots and interests in other Swiss barns around the world. She noted that there would be Skype cameras available and a large screen to view those communicating from other barns.
“Anyone that wants to can come and watch this and participate in it,” said Lehman. “I can’t even fathom what it will be like; we’ll be able to see and talk to people in other barns around the world. It is a deep honor to have been chosen for this, to have our barn honored in an international event such as this.”
Scherrer said that the event would utilize every bit of technology possible to bring everyone together for the worldwide event.
“We encourage everyone to get online and text, and chat with anyone about this event, both now and during the event, even afterwards,” said Scherrer. “We intend to mix it up and chat it up all over the Internet. Attendees will meet people worldwide to share their excitement about these marvelous structures.
“This event includes barns, people, painters, artists, architects, engineers, renovation experts, builders, constructors, families, friends and politicians,” continued Scherrer. “Best of all it includes direct connection to the root stock structures in Graubünden.
“The Cantilevered Forebay Bank Barn, also called in the United States, the Switzer Barn, has its roots in Canton Graubünden in the eastern end of Switzerland,” explained Scherrer. “This is an alpine region with a history of high mountain grazing and demonstrates the formation prototype of the Cantilevered Forebay Bank Barn.”
Barn historian Greg Huber noted in a memo to Lehman that the distinguishing quality of a Switzer Barn is that there is a distinctive front wall projection or barn section that overshoots the stable wall by a number of feet. The front roof slope is several feet longer than the rear roof slope.
“There is no mistaking this barn,” Huber noted. “It is unlike all other barn forms in the entire continent. The Switzer Barn is perhaps the single greatest contribution to early American culture ever by the Swiss.”
The Swiss Heritage barn is one of 10 in the United States that will be honored.
At 11 a.m. a program honoring the barn will include Marsh Davis, president of Historic Landmarks of Indiana, Amos Schwartz, restoration contractor, Swiss guests Anna and Kathy Steiner, International Research Group of Students, Mayor John Minch, and John Eicher.
A Swiss luncheon catered by the Belle Tower Grille will follow. Music will be presented by Keaton Becher on the accordion and Joe B. Schwartz and Ella Yoder on the harmonica. The luncheon will be served on a donation basis.
“It is so significant for us to be able to participate in such a significant international event,” said Lehman. “The fact that we were chosen makes it even more special. These barns are very rare; there aren’t that many around any more.”



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