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MAIGazine Issue 14 - 2018 Edition FINAL Issue 14 - September 2018 11 "We came across a wonderful photo of a barn raising," explained Fletch. "We are so fortunate to be able to share these photos through our digital archives, to give them relevance again." Referring to the very popular Latimer Collection - two albums of almost 460 photos from 1929 to 1941 of visitors to the Latimer General Store in Orland - Fletch felt the barns should have the same treatment. "We can photograph them, investigate their history and heritage, and tie them to the farm families of our area. We can do for barns what we did for the Latimer photos." From the outset, support was obvious. Fletch spoke with a group of farmers who are in the process of collecting artifacts and anecdotes about the local farming community and they quickly endorsed this project and offered assistance. "Every single farmer with whom I spoke is pleased we're doing this. Through them, we received information about a barn about to be dismantled, and we were able to photograph it before it came down. That was a great start." The initial estimate of the number of barns was a bit low. Before long, a guess of 50 to 70 barns quickly rose to more than 200, taking the project into a second summer of photography. "We were surprised by the number," admitted Fletch. "We're pretty confident we now have the lion's share identified. Along the way we've had great conversations with farmers and learned a lot about these buildings we take for granted." "In 1905, Hugh McColl's barn raising brought together friends, neighbours, and family from miles around. More than 100 people worked together and by the end of the day the barn was erected at the cost of a handshake and the understanding the favour would be returned without hesitation." Source Brighton Township by Florence Chatten. .