Old barns, quilt trails preserve heritage, boost economy

By JULIANA MOXLEY
Capital News Service
LANSING – Preserved barns help people remember rural history, save money and boost tourism revenue. They represent our heritage and hold a special place in our collective rural memory, said Steve Stier, former president of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network. Tearing down old barns or replacing them with new pole barns isn’t always wise, Stier said. Disposing of an old barn can cost several thousand dollars. “I tell folks that usually a barn can be repaired for about as much as it would be to dispose of it properly,” Stier said.