Discover Bath barns: Jones barn

by Laura Bednar

Bath Township’s Heritage Corridors of Bath Committee manages one of 27 designated scenic byways in the state of Ohio. The Heritage Corridors of Bath byway, established in 2001, covers 39 miles of road within the township and is designed to tell the story of Ohio’s Western Reserve from the Bath Township perspective: Preserve the rural heritage and maintain the bucolic landscapes for all to enjoy.

When traveling the byway, more than 30 barns are visible with many over 100 years old and several listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The history and heritage of these barns, like many in Ohio, are fading from memory.

Bath Township trustees decided to address this problem and in 2023 created a committee, Discover Bath Barns, as a means to preserve and enhance the heritage represented by these barns. This group, part of the larger Heritage Corridors of Bath Committee, has partnered with the Bath Country Journal to publish a series of articles about some of the barns along the byway.

To a passerby, the barn on Ed Jones’ property on Stone Gate Boulevard appears more like a garage, until you step inside. The original wood from the barn, circa 1930, is assembled in the exact order it was over 90 years ago.

Not much history is known about the barn, other than it was on the property when Jones and his wife purchased it in 2000. It was originally a bank barn – built into the ground with two floors, both accessible from the ground level – and measured 50-feet-by-32-feet.

Jones wanted the barn moved farther away from the street and oversaw the dismantling, numbering each piece of wood so it would be reconstructed in the correct sequence. The wood fit together by tongue and groove, no hardware, and was only reduced by 10 feet to make it 40-feet-by-32-feet.

Jones estimated the barn was likely built in the 1930s based on the wood beams. Large saw blades rose in popularity in the 1930s. and many of the beams appear to be cut with a blade. At least one beam has markings that show chop marks from builders using a hand blade to hew the beams, possibly predating any saws.

When Jones first saw the barn, there was hay inside, indicating the property probably was used for farming. When asked why he kept the barn intact, Jones said, “When I walked into the original barn, it was in great shape. I thought, ‘Who wouldn’t want this?’”

Though the barn was renovated, Jones has kept the spirit of the 1930s alive with items on display from that era, including lanterns and tools. He also kept the original ladders to access the upper level of the barn, forgoing the addition of a staircase.

Some basic renovations to the barn include a new ceiling, insulation, air conditioning, heat and a heated floor. The exterior siding of the barn matches the house on site. Jones said the barn was built before the house after he mistakenly placed the dismantled barn pieces on the site for the home. Logistically, it worked in his favor as he used the barn to store materials during construction of the house.

For Jones, the driving force behind salvaging the barn was to have a place for him and his stepson, Corey Frantz, to do activities together. Frantz battled mitochondrial disease and passed away earlier this year. Though Frantz was disabled during his life, Jones was intent on keeping him active.

Jones restores cars in the barn, and Frantz would assist by sanding parts or doing other small jobs, often while they listened to music. The barn is equipped with 22 speakers.

Frantz would also shoot baskets from a foul line marked on the barn floor, once making over 30 in a row. “He was my best friend,” said Jones.

Though modern in appearance from the outside, the interior of the Stone Gate barn retains its original charm and connection Jones and his stepson shared. ∞

Photo (above): All the wood from the original barn fit together through tongue and groove construction. Each piece was numbered and properly reassembled. Photo by Laura Bednar.
 

Ed Jones kept the original ladders in the barn and built a crow’s nest for the upper level. Photo by Laura Bednar.

The exterior of the barn appears to be a garage with siding that matches the home on the property. Photo by Laura Bednar.