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Above the din of modernity–motorists heading east toward an expanding highway designed to alleviate traffic congestion for an ever-growing population–stands a decades-old barn whose once-shallow breaths portended its demise. But now the iconic building is springing back to life, a testament to local efforts at preserving San Benito County history.
Starting in late May, restoration began on the “Yellow Barn,” a Depression-era building located near the Monterey Street exit in San Juan Bautista. San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT), the owner of the barn and the 540 acres where it resides, spearheaded a campaign to save the historic structure from the ravages of time.
SBALT President Michael Reeves told BenitoLink that there was much debate surrounding the barn’s future after the land trust acquired the former Nyland property in 2021. A debate centered around restoration, replacement, or removal drew participation from SBALT members, the Nyland family, the San Juan Bautista Historical Society and local residents.
When initial restoration and replacement estimates reached $500,000, the argument in favor of razing the barn appeared justified. “It seemed like an impossible task,” Reeves said of preserving the barn.
But the more that SBALT sought input from community members, the more the organization realized the barn’s value and how integral it has been to the region’s landscape. Saving the barn then became a priority for SBALT.
“The barn is so iconic. It marks the gateway to the county. And it potentially is the site of the original, Larios adobe,” Reeves said, referencing the 40 room residence built by Don Manuel Larios on what was then his Mexican land grant called “El Ranchito.”
Reeves explained that the contractor, who has family ties to San Benito County and a “passion for saving old barns,” agreed to restore the barn for $60,000 to $70,000.
An endowment of $40,000 from the Nyland family seeded the restoration funding, leaving a $25,000 shortfall. A fundraising effort is now underway to close the cost gap.
Citing a 2018 report from a barn expert hired by the Nyland family and information learned from the restoration contractor, Reeves said the barn’s origins date back to between the 1920s and 1930s.
And despite years of neglect, the building’s facade and roof are relatively strong, allowing for the building to be essentially lifted, centered, reframed and anchored on a series of new posts, he added.
The barn’s restoration, which will include a coat of fresh paint and other additions, should be completed by the end of July and result in a “safe, straight, and usable” structure, Reeves said.
“The Amah-Mutsun Tribal Band, who have a cultural easement to the property, might be able to use the building as a cultural heritage site. Or the 101 Livestock Company, which leases the property, might store some of its equipment inside the building,” he said.
Regardless of what the future holds for the barn, one thing is certain: its weathered face and wizened body is undergoing a physical transformation that will soon be appreciated by those who understand its historical and cultural significance.
San Juan Bautista resident and president of the San Juan Bautista Historical Society Wanda Guibert shared her feelings about restoring the barn.
“It’s so iconic and represents how the past is still present—and honored—in San Juan Bautista and in much of our rural county as well,” Guibert said. “The barn symbolizes the transition to a slower pace of life, a deep appreciation of the pristine rural landscape, and a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.”
You can learn more about the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust’s efforts to save the Yellow Barn by clicking here.
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