|
Carpenter’s Country Barn
|
About The Barn
The year 2002 was a busy year for Mike and Janice Carpenter of
Illinois City, IL. A decision was made by the couple to renovate an old
barn located on their 18 acres for their daughter’s October 12th wedding
reception. Their daughter’s request was a simple one; a wedding and
reception with a country theme.
The country church procurement was not a problem. It was the Hamlet
United Presbyterian Church in the village of Hamlet, IL. located on Rt.
94. This small community church could inspire any typical Rockwell
painter for its country beauty. The reception hall on the other hand was
a different story. The hall Janice and her daughter reserved for the
reception was in a nearby city. It was a nice hall in a good location
for the average wedding reception but, not for the gal that’s after a
country theme. The only part of the reception that could be country was
the wedding party’s clothing. In other words; no decorations such as
straw, wagons, or tractors. This is when Mike suggested the weathered
old barn.
The barn’s overall appearance prior to the renovation would bring any
soon to be bride to tears and the prospective groom to wonder what type
of family he is marrying into. This authentic old barn also had all the
internal characteristics that old barns possess. Half filled mangers of
rotten hay, dilapidated lofts, really nasty stuff under foot, discarded
lumber, spiders, mice and a couple of cats that enjoyed it all. During
the day, sunshine streamed through the gaps between the barn boards
where nearly a century of years had taken its toll on the
battens. Overall, it took a strong imagination to picture a reception in
this old structure and a lot of trust in Dad from the bride.
Eight months later the barn was ready as planned for the October 12th, 2002 wedding reception. The news of this unique old barn traveled quickly throughout the surrounding community and into nearby cities generating many requests to rent the barn. With the barn’s renewed appearance and it’s country personality, the requests to rent the barn for special occasions keep the Carpenters busy.
|
