The entire Willamette Valley is aware of the loss of our agricultural history whenever we lose an original barn. The Borden family originally erected the big red barn in Tangent Oregon in approximately 1922 and used it as the Oakwood Poultry Farm. It was sold to John Bass in 1946. John Bass willed the barn and surrounding property to his cat (Kitty Kat) with the provision that the Barn and propert
y would revert to the people of the City of Tangent on the passing of his pet cat. The City took possession of the John Bass Estate in 1993 and it was a center of attraction for the community for many years, at times serving as a Haunted House during Halloween or as a backdrop for the Harvest Festival Car Show. By 2010 however, maintenance and insurance costs exceeded the city budget and there was talk of tearing the barn down. Demolition costs are also high and so an alternative was sought. Newcomers to our community, The Timmons Family, have now purchased the barn and have contracted with Emmert International of Clackamas OR to move the barn to their property on Tangent Drive in the hopes of saving this piece of Tangent history and trying to restore it. To do this will take a community effort; from giving the moving company access across fields and accepting some inconvenience as the barn is moved. The Timmons Family hopes for a successful move on October 7. This effort has the full support of the Tangent City Council. Steve and Virginia Glaser and Brian Glaser Farm have graciously offered access across their properties for the move. Comcast has offered to move its overhead wires for free. Other community businesses have donated trailers and in-kind work to smooth the move. If you would like to support The Timmons Family in their efforts to rescue the “Borden Bass Big Red Barn” as a western Oregon treasure email them at [email protected] and keep up with progress on Facebook at Borden Bass Big Red Barn.
