2007 McHenry County Barn Tour
A Great Success!

The 5^th Annual McHenry County Barn Tour, titled "Saving Our Barns", was a huge success. Despite being held later in the month of October (October 27) than in previous years, last years late fall made for perfect timing for the tour. Fall colors were in full peak, and the weather, although a bit overcast and cool in the early morning turned sunny and comfortably pleasant from about 10:00am on.

The tour, a collaborative effort of McHenry County College and the McHenry County Historical Barn Preservation Association, was an all day event that showcased ten barns in north central McHenry County. Barns in Woodstock, Alden, Hebron, and Greenwood townships were featured. The selected barns demonstrated a wide variety of uses - working barns still in agriculture, restored barns used for storage, and barns converted through "adaptive re-use" to a custom home, a commercial retail store, an equestrian facility, and a conference center banquet facility.

The tour featured the McHenry County Historical Barn Preservation Association Board who planned the tour route, research the barns, and guided the tour. McHenry County College assisted with the overall planning of the event, handled the registration, secured the coach bus services, provided a wonderful continental breakfast for tour goers before they boarded the buses, and provided a delicious boxed lunch at Studio @ One Zero Charlie at Galt Airport. The Memory Makers Storytellers added their creative touch on the buses and at the barns with interesting stories about farm life.

The featured location of the tour was the Concorde Centre, which was the beginning and end of the tour. The social gathering at Concorde Centre at the end of the tour was "icing on the cake". Or devours were served, music was provided by Dan Phelps Blues, and everyone had a chance to reminisce about the days events and the highlights of the tour.

For those that missed this year's tour we have a very special treat - compliments of our new-found Annual Barn Tour photographer - Bob Williams. Bob has put together an amazing compilation of the day's events. Click on the link below and enjoy a slide show of the 2007 5^th Annual McHenry County Barn Tour.

www.picasaweb.google.com/bikefifty/2007BarnTour

All MCHBPA members will also receive a copy of the Fall 2007 Barn Post Newsletter coming out shortly. This Special Fall Edition will feature the 2007 5^th Annual McHenry County Barn Tour.