Group to relocate barn to West Liberty
by Lindsay Hoeppner · July 14, 2010

The West Liberty Heritage Foundation is calling for the help of West Liberty community members.

A 1920s barn was recently donated to the Heritage Foundation by Vernon Smith.

Only, the 28-by-32 foot barn, which is located two and a half miles north of West Liberty on Garfield Avenue, is in need of a new foundation, roof and siding.

Heritage Foundation member Ken Ruegsegger estimates moving and restoring the building will cost approximately $20,000.

“If we get 200 people to give $100 a piece, it’s no big deal,” he said. “I’d also like to see people give $100 for their kids, to get them involved.”

Ruegsegger, who is also a member of the Iowa Barn Foundation, said seven barns have been torn down between West Liberty and Interstate 80 in the past 15 years. He does not want to see this barn succumb to the same fate.

As a result, the Heritage Foundation has plans to relocate the barn next to the West Liberty Depot, along Elm Street.

“We’re not going to restore it to historical standards, we’re just going to put a metal roof and metal sides on it,” Ruegsegger said. “We’re going to put rolling doors on it so we can store farm equipment and other items in it. It will be a versatile, usable building for the Heritage Foundation.”

In the future, Heritage Foundation President Ken Donnelly hopes the building can be used in other aspects, as well.

“We hope someday they could have programs for the kids at the school,” he said. “There would be something they could do for educational value at the barn, but that’s in the future.”

Donnelly and Ruegsegger said the organization is planning to move the barn in late October.

Until then, fundraising efforts are underway.

The Heritage Foundation will have a booth set up at the Muscatine County Fair next week, however, interested community members are also encouraged to write a check, payable to the West Liberty Heritage Foundation, and give it to Heritage Foundation member Bill Koellner.

“So many towns have a one-room schoolhouse and have restored their depot and they have a barn,” Donnelly said. “This is just the latest addition.”

In addition, the Heritage Foundation has also secured a windmill, donated by Vern Hudachek, that will also be relocated to the depot area in the near future.

“That’s just one more thing that can be put out there on that land,” Donnelly said. “There’s still plenty of more room for other historical items.”