The Berthusen Barn and Privy, also called the Berthusen Barn, is a historical structure located at the 236 acre Berthusen Park in Lynden, Washington. The barn was built by Hans Christian Berthusen, a pioneer resident of Whatcom County, and Jack Jensen. It was completed in early 1900's and was built from wood from the area.
Berthusen Barn and Privy | |
  | |
| Location | 8837 Bethusen Rd. Lynden, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°57′43″N 122°30′25″W / 48.96194°N 122.50694°W |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | Hans C. Berthusen and Jack Jensen |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000306 |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 2003 |
Background
editHans C. Berthusen was born on January 20, 1860. When he was 4, his family immigrated from Norway to the United States during the Civil War and settled in Iowa. Hans moved to Seattle in 1883 before setting off to Whatcom County with a friend named Mark W. Stone. Berthusen and Stone built adjoining homesteads. In 1889, Hans married Lida Hawley, who was born September 30, 1864. Hawley's family had come to the area in 1872 from Iowa.[1] They adopted a son named Peter Olia Berthusen who was raised on the homestead.
History
editThe barn was completed in 1901, and was one of the largest barns in the area.[2][3]
In 1944, the barn and the land it sat on was donated to the city of Lynden by the Berthusen's under the agreement that the park would be free to the public.[4]
In 2002, the barn had become structurally unsound and fallen into disrepair. In order to secure fundings for repairs, a push lead by Nancy Norris was made to have the barn added to the National Register of Historic Places. Norris was Lynden's parks and recreation coordinator at the time. The barn was added to the register on April 22, 2003.[5][6]
The barn and the associated park remain free to the public to current day. The barn contains several pieces of antique farm equipment donated by the Puget Sound Tractor and Machinery Association.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Berthusens Feted on Anniversary," The Bellingham Herald, January 1, 1940, pg 2.
- ^ Jeffcott, P. R., "Hans Berthusen, County Pioneer Resident, Has Pet Wild Pheasant," The Bellingham Herald, January 7, 1940, pg 14.
- ^ Shindruk, Linda, "Lynden hopes to save crumbling Berthusen Barn," The Bellingham Herald, January 8, 2002, pg 4.
- ^ Shindruk, Linda, "Lynden hopes to save crumbling Berthusen Barn," The Bellingham Herald, January 8, 2002, pg 4.
- ^ "Berthusen Barn". National Park Service. U.S Department of the Interior. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Shindruk, Linda, "Lynden hopes to save crumbling Berthusen Barn," The Bellingham Herald, January 8, 2002, pg 4.
- ^ https://www.lyndenwa.org/facilities/facility/details/Berthusen-Park-4