In Centre County efforts are continuing with the hope of saving a historic barn that is owned by Penn State.
It’s drawn Statewide attention among historians including the farming community
Today, the State Agriculture Secretary tells us the fate of the barn is still uncertain.
Along Route 45 just outside of Pine Grove Mills, is the Kepler Barn at Penn State’s Rock Springs Research Area. Thought to be over 200 years old, with a lot of history, preservation efforts have picked up since Penn state announced plans to demolish the barn
“So yeah,we’ve been involved with it, the challenge for us is there’s not a grant program for us,a capitol project grant for us to them.but we’ve been encouraging the university to give the historical society time. and they’ve done that, now twice, they’ve extended the initial thirty, and another thirty”
The initial 30, and another 30 that AG Secretary Russle Redding is referring to is the month long extensions, Penn State has agreed to in terms of a demolition date. Redding cites the involvement of various organizations, the historic barn and farm foundation of Pennsylvania and others, in trying to save the barn
“I think there’s an interest in the historical society to work with the university, but at this point, it’s still unresolved what that future looks like.”
Penn State, which continues to cut costs in it’s operating budget, cites the Kepler Barn deteriorating condition, and possible restoration costs as reasons why it may be torn down.
