Owners Of Iconic Barn Treasure Its History, Hope To See It Saved

NORTH FORK, NY — Locals and visitors alike driving to and from the North Fork know they are almost home when they see the weathered white barn, adorned with its trademark flag, tucked away just off Main Road in Laurel.

The iconic structure has come to symbolize so much for so many. Yes, it's the ultimate Instagram spot, its rustic beauty just made for North Fork sunset shots, or standing stark and alone against snow-covered farm fields.

In recent weeks, however, those driving by have noticed that the barn has deteriorated, with damage to its west side evident.

Residents on a local Facebook group have sounded a rallying cry to restore the barn, which they say stands as a testament to the North Fork's rich history and a symbol of all that's cherished for those who strive to save what's left.

Christopher Lange, who owns Half Hollow Nursery in Laurel and Dix Hills with his family, including his mother Sarah Lange and his aunt Betty Rasweiler, said they have a deep love for the barn's rich history — and for the more than 600 acres of farmland on which it stands, just over the border in Riverhead Town.

According to the company's website, Half Hollow Nursery was established in 1952 by Lloyd Rasweiler on 40 acres in Dix Hills.

"Having grown up raising produce on his family’s farm, Lloyd decided to venture into nursery crop production. Starting with Taxus, which remains one of the company’s primary crops today, the product line and acreage expanded with the purchase, in the early 1960s, of farmland in Laurel. Through the years this operation has grown to encompass 625 acres, producing a wide range of premium container and field grown plants," the site said.

Lange, 27, said he left the corporate world and came back to run the family business, hearing the siren song of the place where his roots run deep. "The first thing I wanted to do was to repair the barn," he said.

But the barn has fallen into a state of deterioration for about 10 years, and the costs to repair the structure, which would have to be largely rebuilt, are prohibitive — about $50,000, the last time he looked into the possibility.

The problem, too, Lange said, is that the barn is not 100 percent usable for his family's needs, with only about half utilized for storage. It was originally used for mules and corn storage, he said; mules have not been used for farming for decades, Lange said.

Despite his hopes and dreams for the barn, the pandemic hit, and like all businesses the struggle to survive took on new urgency. That same $50,000 might be better used to build a new, fully functional barn, Lange said.

And yet.

The barn, and all it symbolizes, is more than just that, in so many ways. So many drive by to see the barn, take photos by the trademark flag. The funny thing, Lange said, is that the flag is not painted on the barn, despite what many believe. It was gifted to his grandfather in the 70s or 80s and put onto the barn, where it's stayed since.

Even back in the 70s, Lange said, back when the barn still had a wall, his grandfather, seeing that mules were no longer being used, had plans to take down the barn. "Then he put the flag on it, and everyone loved it, so he said, 'Now we've got to keep it,'" Lange said.

And that's exactly what he would like to do. He and his family have been brainstorming, trying to find a way forward, as well as the funds, to make the plan feasible.

Many have mentioned a GoFundMe, but Lange said he's hesitated to ask for help when so many might need it more urgently.

Still, he has a vision: Lange would like to rebuild the barn, gate it off, surround it with bright sunflowers, and create a sitting area in back where people can come and just soak in the barn's rich history and sense of place.

The barn, does, indeed, have history, dating back most likely to the 1850s or thereabouts, said Jamesport historian Richard Wines. Wines bought the house that originally stood before the barn in 1995 and had it moved to Jamesport. That house, he said, was built by a whaling captain, Robert Wilbur, who died in the Gold Rush in California. "It's possible he built the barn sometime before his death in 1850," he said, adding that the barn's small size was suited for a few horses, just right for a whaling captain.

After Wilbur died, his widow had to part with the home; she sold it to the Edmund Fanning, who also might have built the barn, Wines said.

Wines commended Lange and his family for shepherding the barn forward. "They've taken good care of it," he said. "When we moved the house, they didn't want to part with it."

And while he said it's true that saving the barn is an economic challenge — "Barns like that cost more than they're worth" — Wines said the true value of the barn is in what it's come to mean to the entire community.

"It's become the favorite subject for artists on the North Fork," Wines said. "There are so many paintings and photographs of the barn."

That's why, Lange said, despite the challenges, he and his family have continued to try and find ways to restore the barn for future generations. "How many people, at 27, decide to take over their family farm?" he asked. "One day, I'd like to hand it over to my own child."

Love for the North Fork is why Lange left the tech world and came home. "The reason why we are a family business, and still going, is because we appreciate the quality of, and want to uphold the integrity of, the North Fork," he said. "We want to keep it the way it was."

As it stands, Lange and his family are eager to hear ideas and welcome any suggestions as to how to find the economic means to save the barn. "Rather than just building something new, there's a human side to it," Lange said. "So, we've said, 'Let's hold on to it.' We're not going anywhere. The farm's not going anywhere."

And, if the solution materializes, Lange said he'd be thrilled to see his vision to fruition, to restore the barn and see it reborn, surrounded by sunflowers and welcoming visitors to sit and enjoy all the North Fork stands for.

The time is right, he added: He's currently in the process of installing new deer fencing, so the barn could be separated off as "a little sanctuary."

Even friends from college have become attached to the barn, with its flag, standing for so long on the North Fork landscape, Lange said. "It's funny, how it resonates with people."

He and his family talk about the plans, dreaming, hoping, every day, he said. His main Instagram photo is the barn, as is the photo on the screen of his phone. "I have a picture of the barn in my office," Lange said. "We love it. And now we'd like to make it something everyone could love."

Half Hollow Nursery will celebrate its 70th birthday this year, Lange said. "It's a good year to celebrate — and fix up a barn."