State Building Fund Grant

Wisconsin is proud to be called the "dairy state" and "cheeseheads."  Yet Wisconsin has lost over 80% of the old barns that once dotted our scenic landscape, and the ones that are left are fast disappearing. 

The Chase Stone Barn preservation project isn't just about saving an old barn...we are saving one of the last surviving all-fieldstone barns in the country and making it into a historic park where people from all over Wisconsin and beyond can come and experience a piece of rural life while learning about Wisconsin's agricultural history. 

The barn will be a venue for all types of events, including educational workshops, conferences, auctions, farm events, weddings, and much more.  It will also have a rustic museum showcasing the lifestyles of the early settlers from this area, and it will also educate people about the geology of WI; how the stones were pushed and tumbled to the Wisconsin region by massive Canadian glaciers over the past 70,000 years.

In 2007 the Town of Chase asked the State for financial assistance because this barn represents part of Wisconsin's rich cultural history.  In July 2009 the State recognized the importance of this preservation project, not only to our community, but to the State, and approved a grant for $100,000 from the State Building Fund to help towards the development of the new Chase Stone Barn Park.  But in order to receive these funds, Chase must first raise $300,000.

In August of 2009 the town was awarded another grant for $143,000 from the Jeffris Family Foundation in Janesville, WI, for the restoration of the stone barn.  The State is allowing us to apply the Jeffris funds towards the State grant. 

The town will have to hire people to do the restorations of the barn and develop the park.  This will create many jobs for our small rural community.  Once the park is open, it will rejuvenate our community by bringing in tourism.  This means more people will visit our local businesses to shop, dine, and sleep.  It will also create catering services for events held at the park.