Preserving the Goffar Barn
After many months of planning the work to save the Goffar Barn from Narada Lake has begun! The barn has been in danger as its beams and foundation sat in water and mud from encroaching water levels due primarily to beaver activity. Beavers are wonderful wildlife found in Sleeping Bear that play a big role in the ecosystem. Spotting beavers and their engineered dams also makes for a cool visitor experience and can be seen in their enlarging habitat on Narada Lake. But these small critters can create big problems when it comes to preserving Sleeping Bear’s significant historic buildings and landscapes. It is a conundrum requiring extra measures from preservation crews which, by policy must work with or work around wildlife habits and habitat. The Goffar Barn project is saving both the barn and beavers!
Thank you to James Weston Schaberg for the photo.
The Goffar Barn’s foundation and beams have been sitting in mud and water for a while now. The National Park attached cables to the structure to keep it from falling into the lake. Thankfully this grand old barn was well constructed by the settlers, or it may have fallen in the lake completely.
In 2022 the National Park and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (Preserve) identified the barn as needing immediate attention. This was the first time the Park has had to consider doing a project like this – moving a historic structure to save it. The Park asked Preserve to fund an assessment of the barn and recommendations for restoration. Preserve consulted “barn whisperer” Jeff Reinhardt for the project. He recommended moving the barn “as is” rather than dismantling it piece by piece. Following Jeff’s recommendations Preserve engaged retired structural engineer Marty Klein to provide expertise and Preserve’s Neil Schoof, retired architect, to draw up the plans. Casey Reynolds, Preserve’s Project Coordinator was a liaison with the National Park. The National Park approved the plans, obtained the appropriate permits and obtained bids.
The project was first estimated at $30,000 but then escalated to $60,000 once more detailed plans emerged. HD Movers wasn’t daunted by the task and took on the project. We would like to extend a big thank you to all of our donors who have contributed to making this project a reality. Your donations have been instrumental in ensuring that the Goffar Barn will continue to stand for generations to come. If you have not yet donated, there is still time to contribute!
History of the Goffar Farm
This farm located on Narada Lake (Or Lake Narada as it was once called) was established around 1870. A log cabin – and we presume the barn also – was built at that time. Eventually, in the 1880s, the current house was built. The original owners, Alexis Goffar Jr. and his wife Catherine were from Belgium. His parents first came to the area when Alexis was just 17. Alexis farmed the land but was also a shoe and boot maker, served as North Unity village postmaster, and North Unity School Superintendent among other occupations. The farm was later sold to Julius Prause in 1893. By 1912, Julius’ son Albert and his wife Ida owned the farm. In 1919 they sold the farm to Ida’s sister Olive and her husband Milton Mannes. Following Olive’s passing, the farm was purchased by Glen Arbor dentist Leo Roman who then sold to the Park with a 25-year use-and-occupancy. The farm was rented out for the remainder of the provision. In 2023, the National Park Service completed rehabilitation of the house to be used as seasonal employee housing.
And so it begins….
STAGE ONE:
In October of 2023 Preserve began preparing the barn for the move. Casey Reynolds measured the barn and put up plastic barriers.
HD Movers built cribbing to support the barn. Then, using steel I-beams the historic structure was lifted from the foundation by a hydraulic jack. The movers used shims to keep the barn level. The barn sat upon its supports awaited moving while the new foundation was built.
STAGE TWO:
Popp Excavators played a crucial role of grading the property to the necessary levels in preparation for Novak Masonry to lay the foundation. During the week of November 6th their team worked to dig deep and remove dirt to create a solid base for the foundation footings. They then leveled the ground in front of the existing structure. Using laser levels, they ensured that every aspect of the project was precise and accurate.
STAGE THREE:
At this stage, our excitement reached new heights as we watched everything come together before our eyes. During the week of November 18th Novak Masonry constructed the peripheral foundation forms and poured the foundation. Next, the walls for the foundation were built using concrete blocks. Although the work was briefly paused due to rain and the Thanksgiving holiday, the crew quickly resumed their efforts. Blocking and coring were done to code. To preserve the historical look of the barn, real stone will be added to the outside of the block foundation at a later date.
STAGE FOUR:
STAGE FIVE:
The week of December 4th the National Park put in a sill plate. Eventually the sill plate will anchor the barn to the foundation.
STAGE SIX:
It was 32 degrees and lightly snowing the morning of December 11th. It was the moment we’d been waiting for! H.D. movers arrived to move the barn forward and out of danger from falling in to Lake Narada. In day one of the move they successfully moved the barn forward off of it’s old foundation. They did an amazing job of lifting and sliding our barn using cribbing, hydraulic jacks, 55 ft. steel I-beams, rollers and Ivory Soap. (Yes, Ivory Soap! A trick of the trade.) On December 12th H.D. Movers were back to continue moving the barn forward and over onto the newly constructed foundation.
Stage Seven
On December 13th H.D. Movers lowered the Goffar Barn onto its newly constructed foundation. They then removed the steel I-beams from under the barn. On December 15th Novak Masonry was back to fill in the gaps in the brick that were left open for the I-beams. Thank you to James Weston Schaberg for the amazing aerial photos.
Stage Eight
On December 27th Popp Excavating returned to do the final grading around the barn and it’s new foundation.
Watch the full length time lapse video of the move here!
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