Projects
Anna Dean Farm Walking Tours Held Each May
Each May, on the Sunday before Memorial Day, the Barberton Historical Society is proud to sponsor the Anna Dean Farm Walking Tour.
Below are some of the comments we have received from this tour:
We were very impressed with the barn tour yesterday. You did an outstanding job of demonstrating the history of this town to the crowd, as well as answering the MANY questions. As educators, we both know that questions mean interest. Obviously, there were many with a genuine interest. We also, wanted to ask how the two of us could help in your cause to preserve and maintain the history and remaining buildings that exists. Thanks for taking your time to put on an outstanding program. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a positive image for Barberton and the BJ did a great job with coverage.
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The walk was GREAT. This was my first time. Neeko had a ball and napped the rest of the day when he got home.
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Thanks again for a wonderful job! The kids (and adults) really enjoyed the tour. We (the teachers) are hoping that next year we can include some stops and mini-tours of some of the buildings and places we rode past (just a thought so far. Thank you for your time, effort, and patience!
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Congratulations on the outstanding article in today's Beacon. It doesn't get much better than that! Great photo of the barn. You certainly had a beautiful day yesterday for the tour.
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Wow, wow, wow, wow. I was never on the Tour before but I am sure glad I came this year. I can't wait to come back again. The Barberton Historical Society is the BEST !!!!!!!!
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Glad you got some good feedback. I really did enjoy the tour. Heard lots of good stuff I wasn't aware of -- like the tie-in with the Barberton Reservoir. You really have a knack for bringing history to life.
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We were very impressed with the barn tour yesterday. You did an outstanding job of demonstrating the history of this town to the crowd, as well as answering the MANY questions. As educators, we both know that questions mean interest. Obviously, there were many with a genuine interest. We also, wanted to ask how the two of us could help in your cause to preserve and maintain the history and remaining buildings that exists. Thanks for taking your time to put on an outstanding program. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a positive image for Barberton and the BJ did a great job with coverage. 〰️ The walk was GREAT. This was my first time. Neeko had a ball and napped the rest of the day when he got home. 〰️ Thanks again for a wonderful job! The kids (and adults) really enjoyed the tour. We (the teachers) are hoping that next year we can include some stops and mini-tours of some of the buildings and places we rode past (just a thought so far. Thank you for your time, effort, and patience! 〰️ Congratulations on the outstanding article in today's Beacon. It doesn't get much better than that! Great photo of the barn. You certainly had a beautiful day yesterday for the tour. 〰️ Wow, wow, wow, wow. I was never on the Tour before but I am sure glad I came this year. I can't wait to come back again. The Barberton Historical Society is the BEST !!!!!!!! 〰️ Glad you got some good feedback. I really did enjoy the tour. Heard lots of good stuff I wasn't aware of -- like the tie-in with the Barberton Reservoir. You really have a knack for bringing history to life. 〰️
Barberton Community Foundation Grant
Supports Piggery Concrete Restoration
PRESERVING OUR PAST
BARBERTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In 2017 the Barberton Historical Society received a matching grant from the Barberton Community Foundation to repair deteriorated window and door lintels which had become safety hazards. The Piggery, at 248 E. Robinson is a highly visible landmark as you head into downtown Barberton. It is a key venue for our annual, end of May, Anna Dean Farm Walking tour and the Anna Dean Farmer’s Market that runs each May through September.
Stathos Construction Company of Akron did an excellent job with repairs to be consistent in texture and color with the concrete in surrounding areas for historical accuracy.
The historical society and Barberton Community Foundation share the mission of preserving our town’s rich history, vitality and community image for generations to come.
Colt Barn Face-Lift
The O. C. Barber Colt Barn got a makeover with fresh new paint to all the exterior woodwork. We often get asked why the barns have bright blue paint. The color scheme for the building is red, white and blue…the colors of the American flag. The reason for this was O. C. Barber’s background, starting a small match company with his father, which grew into a worldwide business and making him a very wealthy man. He felt that this would only have been possible in the U.S. and showed his patriotism quite blatantly in his magnificent Anna Dean Farm buildings, several of which were the largest in the world at the time of their construction.
Anna Dean Farm™ Market
The O. C. Barber Pig Barn at 248 E. Robinson Ave. in Barberton is home to the historical society’s annual Farmer’s Market. It’s held once a week June through September, rain or shine.
Get the details here.
Heating House Renovation
If you live in Barberton or regularly drive by the historical society's building, the O. C. Barber Heating House at 360 East Robinson Ave, be sure to take a look. The exterior was renovated a few years ago by Testa Companies using Caplea Studio Architects. These are the same firms that converted the Brooder Barn into the fine day care facility that now occupies one of our other buildings.
The building houses the original 1912 Stirling Boiler. This Babcock and Wilcox Stirling Boiler is one of only three original Stirling Boilers, that we are aware of, left in the U.S. As such, the boiler's preservation is of prime concern to the historical society. We view the boiler as the largest artifact we have in our growing collection of Barberton memorabilia.
