PRINTER'S NO. 983
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
189
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MOUL, MILLARD, M. K. KELLER, D. COSTA, SCHLEGEL
CULVER, COHEN, DONATUCCI, READSHAW, HENNESSEY, HELM,
KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, FARINA, VEREB, DiGIROLAMO, BROWNLEE,
PICKETT, MAJOR, SABATINA, MARSICO, V. BROWN, GABLER, GIBBONS,
PAYNE, GROVE, WATSON, WHEELAND, GINGRICH, B. MILLER, THOMAS,
MAHONEY, BRADFORD, GILLEN AND MURT, MARCH 24, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 24, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating 2015 as the "Year of the Pennsylvania Barn."
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has recognized the economic
contributions and importance to our agricultural heritage of
historic barns through legislation and has called for creating
inventories of these structures within this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Professor Emeritus Robert F. Ensminger of Kutztown
University and others, through years of study and research, have
determined that the Pennsylvania barn is a distinct
architectural form with many influences, but whose ultimate
realization and ideal expression were primarily achieved within
this Commonwealth beginning more than 250 years ago; and
WHEREAS, 2015 is the 10th year since the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission awarded a grant to the Historic
Preservation Society of Gettysburg-Adams County to initiate a
survey and study of the historic barns within Adams County and
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to establish a Historic Barn Registry for the county; and
WHEREAS, Barns are the heart and soul of our Pennsylvania
farms and the communities of which they are a part and define
the agricultural character of rural landscapes across this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Barns are visual reminders that hard work,
productivity and ingenuity are integral to our identity as
Pennsylvanians no matter what our occupations and whether we
hail from cities, towns, rural areas or farms; and
WHEREAS, Farms and their signature barns were instrumental in
forming the foundation for Pennsylvania's historical settlement
patterns, resulting in the establishment of the rich community
character we cherish to this day; and
WHEREAS, The preservation of historic barns is an
increasingly important cause among national, State and local
historic preservation groups and societies; and
WHERESAS, Maintaining, rehabilitating, preserving and using
these cultural and architectural treasures in the fields of
Pennsylvania, as well as preserving those same fields,
contribute to a vibrant agricultural industry in this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania leads all 50 states in the total
acreage of agricultural preservation easements, and the barns
standing within these easements have a central function in
providing shelter for animals and storage for crops and
equipment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate 2015 as
the "Year of the Pennsylvania Barn" and encourage efforts to
honor and preserve this uniquely Pennsylvanian architectural
form.
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