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MAIGazine Issue 14 - 2018 Edition FINAL Issue 14 - September 2018 12 Fletch also learned a bit about construction. "There are several L-shaped barns in the area, and I always thought that was just the way they were built. Turns out, in most cases, farmers of the past have moved one barn from another location and attached it to an existing barn." Recording and researching all this is part of the long-range plan, one with a life of its own. After identifying the properties, the BDA sent an introductory letter assuring landowners and farmers that volunteer photographers would only come on their property with permission; the response was excellent. More than a dozen volunteer photographers were recruited from the Brighton Photo Group and given specifications for the photos. "We wanted consistent high-quality images for the gallery, and we're happy to supply the barn owners with digital copies at no cost," said Fletch. "We only want exterior photos, so this is not at all disruptive, and the photographers coordinate visits with the owners." Once photography is complete on a barn, the group adds ownership and structural details and posts the information on its website. A new phase will involve researching the history of the property, ascertaining when it was built, by whom, and how it was used over the generations. "This is more than just photos; it's a history of the farm," said Fletch. This undertaking is only the first phase. "Once we get the current barns identified, photographed, and researched, we hope to start learning about those barns no longer standing. We hope people come forth with photos of old barns in the community and share their stories. If there is one barn left for every 10 gone, then we have upwards of 2,000 barns once standing in Brighton." Photographers from the Brighton Photo Group with their photos used in the 2018 Brighton Barn Calendar. Left to right: Bill Murtha, Bill Sprung, Gilles Bisson, George Wand, Ralph de Jonge, Dalila Seckar, Cindy Conlin, Tim Whitehouse, D.W. Fletcher.