Lindsay Campbell
With 2015 marking the 100th year of the Cornell barn, two concerts are planned there this summer to commemorate the historical milestone.
The barn, which still has its original wood, was finished in 1915 by William Pope, Kim Cornell’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side.
“That barn was built in 1897 by my great-grandfather,” he noted. “But it took him 18 years to finish it.
“This was a Pope homestead,” Cornell explained. “He walked in here from northeastern Scotland with a backpack and an axe and built this barn.”
Cornell, who renovated the barn in 2003, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” project. He said he only did it because he knew if he didn’t, the building would have fallen over.
Cornell’s wife, Pat Clysdale-Cornell, said she’s proud of the work her husband has put into such an important piece of district architecture.
“I’m really glad that Kim did renovate that barn,” she remarked. “I know that the family history was important to him, but he did an extraordinary job and put so much work into it.
“It really is beautiful in there.”
Cornell said the barn holds a lot of memories, not only for him but also for other family members who have visited the homestead over the years.
“As kids, we would run all over the beams,” he recalled. “It was just a play area for us.
“There was one addition that we tore off where there was a big old rope,” he added. “We used it to swing around in there.
“When we had an anniversary party for my parents last summer, a whole bunch of cousins came,” Cornell noted.
“The one thing they talked about was swinging in the barn. That was always a highlight for us.”
Although the building has both historical and sentimental value, Cornell said it is one of the essential things on the farm that helps him run his business.
“It’s a calving facility for us,” he explained. “But in the summer, it’s mostly vacant so we can do these [barn] concerts.
“It’s still a very useful building for us.”
The Cornells, who have held various musical events in their barn since 2004, thought it fitting to commemorate the centennial year with nothing other than sharing their love of music with friends in the community.
“Kim and I love music and we love to hear musicians in a small setting; musicians that we think are on the cusp of becoming well-known,” said Clysdale-Cornell.
“But it’s also an opportunity to enjoy live music and give a place for up and coming musicians to play,” she added.
“We love to provide the opportunity for musicians and locals.”
The first barn concert of the summer is set for Monday, June 15, with all proceeds going towards the “Community Chest.”
Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with games and a barbecue. The concert will follow at 7:30 p.m.
“I just hope that people come out because ‘Community Chest’ is such a worthwhile cause,” said Cornell.
“The thing we like about ‘Community Chest’ is that the money goes right to district people without a whole bunch of bells and whistles,” he noted.
Additional items will be auctioned off throughout the evening–many of them one-of-a-kind items.
If you have items to donate for either the auction or as prizes for the activities, drop them off at the Emo Research Station, Cornell Farms (located on La Vallee Road North), or the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market.
We are hoping for interesting items with a rural or farming theme (unique food or meat packages would be most welcome).
Drop them off by Saturday, June 13 so we can package them up into appropriate bundles for the auction or for prizes for the games.
The concert itself will feature Brent Newman, a well-known musician from London, England, formerly of Fort Frances, who has been visiting here for about a year and will be leaving in August for home.
He will be joined by local musicians Jim Newman, Robroy Donaldson, and Bill Shine who go by the name of Rough Cut Pine.
“He’s quite an accomplished musician and most people don’t realize that,” Cornell said of Newman.
“He has family in town but he lives in England.
“He and his wife came here and while he was here, we wanted to have him,” Cornell noted.
“So that’s why he’s playing.”
Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
They are available at the Fort Frances Public Library, the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market, Tompkins Hardware in Emo, and Cornell Farms.
The second barn concert is slated for Sunday, Aug. 9.
The musical guest will be The D. Rangers, who were the very first act the Cornells had at their barn.
“They play bluegrass on acid,” said Cornell. “People just love them. They are so fun!
“So we are bringing them back.”
As far as the barn goes, Cornell believes it has given something back to anyone who’s been in it over the years.
“The barn is an interesting thing . . . most of our neighbours will come to at least one show in the summer,” he remarked.
“And when I say neighbours, I mean people in the township,” he noted. “It’s kind of evolved in that it’s the community’s barn now.
“They don’t [outright] tell you it but Pat and I understand that the barn is an important piece of the community to them,” Cornell said.
“I think they appreciate that this kind of heritage has been preserved in the community.
“So, if they want to come to a show, have a visit with the neighbours, have some fun, and come with a cooler full of beer, I could care less,” he noted.
