The Thorntown Heritage Museum’s century-old Gillan Barn is closer to rescue after raising more than $35,000, and organizers are turning to the community to close the gap with a May 2 fundraiser dinner at Thorntown Elementary School.
Speaking on WILO and Boone 102.7 FM’s “Party Line” talk show, Thorntown Heritage Museum coordinator and Thorntown Public Library local history librarian Kirsten Wamsley said the “Past Builds the Future: Gillan Barn Restoration Fundraiser” aims to finish funding a failing foundation so the 1920s barn can become new exhibit and program space for the museum. “We needed over $38,000 to save this foundation and save the building,” Wamsley said, noting the campaign has passed the $30,000 mark and is now “in the home stretch” of a years-long effort that began with purchasing the barn in 2020 after museum leaders had pursued it since the 1970s.
The May 2 event will feature dinner, live music, local storytelling and a silent auction, with individual tickets priced at $40 and business tables of eight at $400, all benefiting the Sugar Creek Historical Society’s project to stabilize the barn and eventually open it to the public.
Foundation issues threaten historic barn
Wamsley said a Community Foundation of Boone County grant allowed the Society to begin long-planned safety upgrades to the Gillan Barn before contractors discovered serious structural problems. “The foundation is definitely not in good shape. It’s mold, moisture, the beams are sinking and broken,” she said, describing “very gnarly photos” that appear on the fundraiser flyer.
The barn, constructed in the 1920s with native wood, a rounded roof and a limestone-and-brick foundation, has served many community roles over the decades, including a Thorntown High School auto body shop and later storage. Wamsley said limestone foundations “are going to crumble,” and added that locally made brick from a long-closed Thorntown brickyard is also deteriorating.
Fundraiser details
The “Past Builds the Future” fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, at Thorntown Elementary School, with doors open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a buffet-style meal from Shoup’s Catering of Frankfort, hear music from the Sugar Creek Big Band and listen to stories from former Thorntown attorney and longtime resident David Cook.
Tickets are on sale now at the Thorntown Public Library, with cash or check accepted, and organizers are asking guests to purchase by April 18 so caterers can prepare. “That $40 your personal ticket, that covers your entire meal and then a little bit of a donation to the museum,” Wamsley said, adding that revenue from a silent auction of items donated by area businesses will also support the project.
Business tables of eight are available for $400 and include dinner plus additional recognition. Wamsley said those tables provide “an opportunity for you to show your community support,” with reserved seating, signage featuring the business logo and public thanks from the podium during the event.
Plans for expanded museum space
Once the foundation is stabilized, Wamsley said the barn will allow the Thorntown Heritage Museum to display more of its collection and host larger programs than the 1860s historic house can accommodate. “We want to use it for more exhibit space to host programming on site because we’ve had programs where we’ve had to turn people away because we don’t have enough space in the historic house,” she said.
“Without this barn, we are limited to how we can reach our community and preserve our local history,” Wamsley previously told Clinton County Daily News, explaining that the additional space will make it possible to share artifacts currently in storage due to space and accessibility constraints.
Ongoing DAR wreath project and summer plans
During the interview, Wamsley also noted that a planned Daughters of the American Revolution wreath-laying ceremony at three Boone County cemeteries along U.S. 52 was postponed due to weather and safety concerns. Those veterans will instead be honored during a June 24 ceremony at the Boone County Courthouse, part of a larger project to recognize 20 Revolutionary War patriots buried in the county during America 250 observances.
The Thorntown Heritage Museum and Thorntown Public Library are planning a full slate of summer events connected to the semiquincentennial theme, including Memorial Day activities, a joint program with the James Hill DAR chapter on Boone County’s Revolutionary War heroes, participation in Thorntown’s Fourth of July celebration, and a service day to pack 250 care packages for military members.
Volunteer and contact information
Wamsley emphasized that volunteers are critical to keeping the museum open and programming running. She said guides receive a simple script and can also welcome visitors who prefer to browse on their own, adding that the atmosphere is “super laid back” and suitable for teens and older adults looking for a low-pressure way to give back.
Those interested in tickets, volunteering or learning more about the Gillan Barn project can contact Wamsley at the Thorntown Public Library at 765-436-7348 or by email at kwamsley@thorntownpl.org, or follow the Thorntown Heritage Museum and Thorntown Public Library on Facebook and Instagram.
