Community looks for ways to preserve its historic barn

The village can't afford to restore the building.
MARIEMONT, Ohio (AP) -- This historical community is looking for ways to preserve one of its original buildings, an 81-year-old barn.
The Resthaven Barn, built as Mariemont began growing as a planned community, will be vacated in coming days. The two-story building, topped by a cupola, has been the maintenance facility for 50 years in this Cincinnati suburb of more then 3,400. But the village is moving its maintenance vehicles and equipment into a new building in an industrial park.
The village, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of the nation's premier early planned communities, is talking to an arts club and architectural firm about taking the barn.
Seeking feedback
Mayor Dan Policastro says he will send letters to residents who live near the barn asking feedback on proposed uses of the property. The Women's Art Club of Cincinnati would take over the first floor for exhibits and meetings, with a large room available for rental for wedding receptions and other gatherings. Childress & amp; Cunningham Inc., which specializes in historic preservation, would occupy the second floor.
"I'm hopeful they'll accept this," Policastro said. "If we can save the barn in this way, it would be a great thing."
The village, which can't afford to restore the barn, would rezone the property and advertise for bids.
Barn's history
"It's a very unique structure and has a lot of history behind it," said Larry Cunningham, a principal of the architectural firm. "It has some fine architectural features."
The barn was designed by New York City architect Hubert Reeves in 1924. It was among a set of buildings that included a chicken house, a tree nursery, a dairy operation and a gardener's cottage.
"The barn is a beautiful example of the evolving barn style originating in Europe as it came through New England and the Midwest," said Jane McDonald, a former trustee of the Mariemont Preservation Foundation.
She said Mary Emery, Mariemont's founder, wanted the farm there to supply villagers with butter, milk and eggs.
The father of Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner Jr. operated the Quality Lindner Milk Co. from the site, and Carl Jr. and his brothers worked there as youths. The family later moved its growing business to Norwood and founded United Dairy Farmers.