Henry County Historic Preservation Commission meets

The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission met Aug. 17 at the Henry County Courthouse. Present were Caroline Lehman, Johanna Crawrord, Larry D. Roth, Mary Savage, Judy Rawson, Cathie Schreiner, Joel Garretson, and guest Danny Graber. Larry provided an update on the Wayland Historic Residential District nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Commission approved a $200 donation to the DAR for repairs to the Charles Shepherd monument at the Forest Home Cemetery. Shepherd was the only Revolution War veteran buried in Henry County. Discussed was a proposal to produce a book on Henry County's pioneer cemeteries, a joint project with the Henry County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Danny Graber presented his plans to preserve an 1884 barn on their farm southeast of Mt. Pleasant.

The barn was built on the farm originally owned by Warren Beckwith (b. 1833-d. 1905) a well known prominent citizen of Henry County. Beckwith's son Warren Wallace Beckwith was married to Abraham Lincoln's granddaughter Jesse Harlan Lincoln. Their son, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, was the last undisputed descendant of President Lincoln.

The commission is looking into the possibility of placing the barn on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique structure as well as its historic relationship with the Beckwiths. Caroline announced an upcoming program on spinning wheels at the Dover Museum on Aug. 21 at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Oct. 19 in the one room country school at East Grove Farms winery at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend.