A Fond Farewell

What today is the Otto Preserve, was once Carl and Ilse Otto’s farm. Carl Otto was a man of many talents, who designed and built the structures at the Otto Preserve. Throughout the Preserve are several historical reminders of his craftsmanship – the Resource Center building, the A-frame barn along the loop trail, and the old hay barn. Carl raised Scottish highlander cattle on the property and the hay barn was once used to store hay and feed his cattle.

As the hay barn approaches 70 years of age, it has seen its share of rain, withstood windstorms (so far!), and has become surrounded by the encroaching forest. Time and nature have damaged the material integrity of the building. We love admiring its rustic charm, but the hay barn is unstable, unsafe, and not used for anything today. We have carefully studied our options and assessed the building thoroughly. After much deliberation, the Heritage Trust has decided to remove the unstable structure. The Baker Mountain Ranch construction crew will help us remove the old hay barn in March.

We will be sad to see it go, but we will continue to honor those that care for these lands past, present and future. Our historical records include detailed sketches of the hay barn accompanied by meticulous notes and measurements dated back to 1952. We will remember the old hay barn fondly, and it will be memorialized with Carl’s original drawings, photos, and video.