The Historic Miller Red Barn at Christmas Hill Park is at risk of being demolished and replaced by soccer fields. Some people might like that. But then the space would serve only the soccer playing public. How much better would it be to leave the barn to serve all of the City’s residents?
The City Council slated this important piece of Gilroy’s history for demolition at the beginning of this year. Upon appeal, a group of people in favor of keeping and re-purposing or re-using the barn were given one year to raise the money to stabilize the building and to make the barn useful.
So, who cares? Two weekends ago at the Downtown Wine Stroll, 70 residents of Gilroy who do care sighned a list opposing the demolition of the barn. They also opened their wallets and donated money to further the effort to save the Miller Red Barn. In return, they received our “Save the Miller Red Barn” button, and everyone swore that they would proudly wear it. Others asked questions about why the barn was being taken down, who was Henry Miller and what was going to be done with the barn.
If you go by the old political rule that states that for every letter received there are 10 more people who feel the same way, then there are at least 700 people in Gilroy that feel the same way about the barn as those who stopped at the our table on Monterey Street during the Wine Stroll.
As for what will happen to the barn (if it is kept from being demolished)—it will start out being rustic, but will be cleaned and strengthened in an historically appropriate way to the degree that there can be programs showing how blacksmiths work, how gardens are started, how 4-Hers raise their sheep, how the urban parts of the community can live in harmony with the surrounding natural habitat. Stories can be told, songs can be sung, music can be played, dances can be held and exhibits and demonstrations of historical agricultural equipment and techniques can be scheduled. Programs for all ages can be developed. The options are unlimited if the Miller Red Barn is retained; there are no options or opportunities if the barn is demolished. Once it is gone, it is gone forever and there will only be memories that remain, but those will quickly fade.
The Miller Red Barn Committee, affiliated with the Gilroy Foundation, is holding a fund raising barbecue on Sunday, June 29 between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Demonstration Garden on Eigleberry St. between Sixth and Seventh streets. This western-themed barbecue will feature Chef Jeff Raby, a raffle for an original oil painting of the Miller Barn by local artist Scott Lance and silent auction. At this time we are working toward $10,000 to repair the barn roof, making the interior safe from the elements. A $45 donation for the event is a small price to pay for this gala event for a most worthy cause. Tickets are available at the Nimble Thimble located at 7550 Monterey St., Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, 7441 Monterey St. or at the offices of Bay Sierra Properties located at 22 Martin St.
Next time: Who was Henry Miller, and why should we care?
