Santeetlah – On a chilly, drizzly Saturday, a dozen Graham County residents banded together at a small farm past Lake Santeetlah for a “barn-lowering.”
The barn’s owner, who chose to remain unnamed in this article, has lived on her farm for 20 years.
“This place was my dream,” she said. “Before we bought it, I couldn’t sleep. I was so excited. We just had to have it.”
As beautiful as the property is, the past 20 years have taken a toll. For the decade, the owner has lived on the property by herself, her children all having made their homes in other parts of the country.
At the age of 70, she walks with a cane, as medical problems have made walking very difficult for her. When heavy winds and rains recently dealt her old tobacco barn a fatal blow – making it a dangerous eyesore – she appealed to the community for help.
And the community responded.
John Colwell put out a call to action in last week’s edition of The Graham Star as well as via e-mail and the results were obvious by mid-morning Saturday.
The crew of volunteers – most of whom had never even met the barn’s owner previously – had the front part of the enormous old barn on the ground. Some volunteers were skilled at construction and mechanics, while others were just willing and eager to help.
The next stage of the operation – getting the backhoe started – was accomplished by noon, eliciting a round of applause. The backhoe was crucial, as it was the only way to move the enormous amount of heavy lumber.
Moving the heavy timbers to another structure for safekeeping was underway by afternoon, with the actual de-construction of the main barn yet to go.
“This is a feel-good story,” said Robbinsville Methodist Church pastor Eric Reece. “People here will come together to do some good whenever they get a chance.”