HOLLAND, MI – (WHTC) – A barn that was rebuilt in 1928 after a fire destroyed the original barn has been awarded the 2016 Barn of the Year Award.
The award was presented to Eastmanville Farm from Ottawa County Parks in the category of Non-Profit or Adaptive Use. The West Michigan Argricultural Education Center leases property on the “farm-park” and plans to turn more than 80 acres into a working farm and education center.
The award was given by the Michigan Barn Preservation Network at their annual event on May 7.
The property is located in Coopersville at 7151 Leonard Road and was once the Ottawa County Poor Farm and Community Haven. Now the Eastmanville Farm includes a breathtaking array of rolling open fields, steeply sloped stream corridors and 1,367 feet of Grand River shoreline. An historic cemetery is also on the property. In addition to the historic remnants at the site, park visitors can enjoy hiking trails, equestrian trails and picnic areas.
The Ottawa County Poor Farm and Community Haven will host a celebration in honor of the 150th anniversary on October 1, 2016.
