Glidden Homestead seeking barn restoration donations

DeKALB – The J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center is seeking monetary donations to help restore its barn.

The donations will go toward restoring the barn’s interior for programs and exhibit space, according to a news release.

Joseph F. Glidden invented and manufactured the barbed wire named “The Winner” in the barn. Glidden’s wire manufacturing office also is located in the barn’s southeast corner.

The restoration’s phase one projects include fundraising for wood plank floor installation, concrete floor removal, and support post installations and reinforcements. The restorations will help make the barn usable and allow for programs and interpretive educational space. The homestead also will collect window restoration funds.

The homestead’s volunteer barn restoration committee led a series of updates to the barn. The updates include the installation of the original tack room doors and a barn entry paver path. Masonry and foundation repairs also were completed.

The donations are tax-deductible as allowed by the law. To donate, visit GliddenHomestead.org and click on “Barn Restoration: Brick by Brick” or send via mail to the Glidden Homestead, 921 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, with “barn restoration” in the memo.

For information, call 815-756-7904 or email jessi@gliddenhomestead.org.