Tribune Staff Reports
The Indiana Barn Foundation and the Jennings County Historical Society are partnering to host the annual IBF Heritage Barn Tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23.
For several years, the historical society has provided a town and country Home and Garden Tour. But this year, it decided to feature heritage barns.
The self-driven tour will focus on Yankee and transverse barns dating from the 1860s through the 1930s along State Roads 3 and 7 in Jennings County.
Along the route, participants may take advantage of Jennings County landmarks and visit four historic cemeteries and two covered bridges.
The tour also will feature several activities at some of the barns, including a hayride and a hot dog roast and a vintage jewelry and clothing sale hosted by the Vernon Clionian Society, the oldest women’s club in Indiana.
One barn was originally a hay press barn predating tractor drawn balers for baling hay to ship across the county on the railroad system. One of the oldest barns is located on the property of Stream Cliff Herb Farm, and tour participants can take advantage of the herb/plant sales, tea room and winery.
The Oak Grove Farm and Stables will feature the stables built in 1925 and track built in 1871. Standard-bred trotting harness horses will be hooked to a training cart and led to the half-mile tract at different times during the tour.
Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 the day of the tour and are available through the IBF website as well as the Jennings County Historical Society headquartered at the North American House, 134 E. Brown St., Vernon.
Maps of the tour route, a complete list and descriptions of all of the barns and a list of restaurants will be available at the North American House on the day of the tour.
Information: Call 812-346-8989 or visit indianabarns.org