Buzzard Roost's Harley House Endangered DRAFT 8/4/05

October 2005: Many things have changed - see updates in "What's New With the 'Harley House'?", after reading the updated history and architectural history of the building in "History & Architecture of the 'Harley House.'" (See also my inspirations from a book on Shenandoah.)

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The house when inhabited in 1987

Help Save the Harley House!

This home began as a two-room cottage with a subtle but surprising amount of fine styling in the windows, siding, and doors. Built sometime between 1830 and 1850, it is one of a decreasing number of surviving early rural homes in Ross County.

Located at the far end of a remote road, this house would have been the residence of a "Ridge Farmer" who was probably content to live at the fringe of settlement.

About 1900 it was enlarged with a loft, front and back porches, and a "Creole" roof spanning all. The last family lived here in the 1950s, when the property was bought by Earl Barnhart. Half a century later, his widow donated the area to the Ross County Park Distict as a nature preserve with an emphasis on educating schoolchildren.

• The house is a characterful, memorable part of the park, located like an icon near the gateway


• It is worth conserving, but is approaching a point of increasing deterioration where it will be unfeasible to renovate


• It is surprising that the building has not been vandalized more


• It musty be secured immediately to prevent further damage or destruction


• Simple corrective measures are needed for the gutters and drainage (removal of gutters, sloping of soil)


• Grants and volunteer / free labor is available to help the Park District to conserve the building - but they need to be sought out


• A sign stating the value of the building, the role of preservation in the park plan, and the work being planned to conserve the building would inform park visitors, fend of some vandalism, and encourage volunteers

I will have more information soon. Please contact me, Kevin Coleman, if you want to help.

The Ross County Park District has a website on the Earl H. Barnhart Buzzards' Roost Preserve, available online. "Buzzards Roost is devoted to the recreational study of the area's natural history and scenic beauty."

Views of the House

The house is a remnant of the late 19th century that accents the natural beauty of the preserve

view of east and north (front) elevations

	view of north (front) and west elevations

view of south (rear) and east elevations

The Approaches

The house greets most visitors to the preserve

	main entry - gate at end of Red Bird Lane

	Harley House approach, from the front gate

	west approach, returning from the Roost proper

	paved parking lot beside the house

Character & Ameneties

Elements of the house combine to give the house its character

	three doors to one porch

	how many visitors have enjoyed the view, sitting on the front porch?

	three doors inside

original exterior window, now looking into kitchen

Decay and Neglect

The house has been left vulnerable to damage and destruction

poor drainage at front west corner

detached front gutter

water-damaged interior wall

	Partly stripped bathroom

	rain washing down rear wall

decaying wooden west sill

Visits by Vandals

With no monitoring of the house, nature works towards reclaiming it

strewn attic floor

cellar door in kitchen

	ajar kitchen door, broken-out door glazing, decaying stoop floor

knocked-open doors and stomped porch flooring

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