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WCMU Public Television aired “Saving the Barn: The Leelanau County Poor Farm”, a locally produced documentary on the history, preservation, and future of the Leelanau County Poor Farm/County Infirmary. The film is a multi-year project of the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society (LCHPS).
Click below for a 30 second preview of the film or click here for the full video.

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Welcome! Learn about and join us in preservation activities countywide!

The Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society, formed in 2017 as a nonprofit to save a barn, has a much larger challenge – to identify and facilitate preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures throughout our county. Learn more about the Poor Farm Barn and activities to assist owners, public and private, in understanding and planning preservation work on their properties.

News and Activities

Check here often to see the latest News and Events.

New documentary on the Leelanau County Poor Farm

WCMU Public Television aired “Saving the Barn: The Leelanau County Poor Farm,” three times during the week of March 17, 2024. This is a locally produced documentary on the history, […]

EXCITING FUNDRAISER SEPTEMBER 24

Row-by-Row Event, (formerly) Buckets of Rain Date: Sunday September 24, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Location: Broomstack Kitchen and Taphouse Maple City, MI 49664 Please save this date […]

Celebrate Historic Preservation in Leelanau County

EVENT TO CELEBRATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN LEELANAU COUNTY Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society will host an event on May 27 (rain date, May 28), with guided barn tours to honor […]

Telling Stories – GAAC Current Exhibit

As part of the Glen Arbor Art Association’s (GAAC) Exhibition, Telling Stories exhibition [January 13 – March 23, 2023], Gallery Manager Sarah Bearup-Neal talked with LCHPS Board Members, Barbara Siepker […]

Barn Lean-to Reconstruction

Shed Roof Reconstruction Perhaps you’ve driven by the Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn recently and noticed a new addition to the exterior on the west side of the barn. First […]

Restoration/Preservation Award from the Historical Society of Michigan

Announcing the Winners of the 2022 State History Awards LANSING, Mich.—The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) announces its 2022 State History Award winners, who will be recognized during the Annual […]

Annual Fundraising Appeal for 2022

Hello Friends, Since our beginning five years ago, The Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society (LCHPS), has been extremely fortunate to have generous financial donors like you, who believed in our […]

In Need of a Refrigerator

Row by Row (formerly Buckets of Rain) and Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan are seeking a large home or small commercial working refrigerator that is fully or even partially donated. […]

Exciting New Grant Awards

Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society (LCHPS) Receives $20,000 in Grants for Documentary LCHPS board members, Barbara Siepker and Tina Mehren, have been working on a documentary of the historic ‘Leelanau […]

At Last, the Cupola Installation

On May 2, 2022 the replica of the cupola was installed. The installation crew was comprised of James Schettek (far left), owner of David Webster Construction and grandson of John […]

Save the Date

Looking Back • Moving Forward

The Glen Lake Community Library Sponsors: Looking Back • Moving Forward Leelanau County Poor Farm Lives On: From the early days to the future Tuesday May 3, 2022 7:00 pm […]

James Schettek, grandson of the barn builder, stands next to the complete cupola

Ball Grant Furthers Preservation Work on the Barn

The Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society is pleased to announce that we have received a generous grant from the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation in 2021. The Ball […]

Barn of the Year Award Ceremony

The Michigan Barn Preservation Network is pleased to announce that the Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn that you nominated has been selected to receive the 2021 Barn of the Year […]

Leelanau County Poor Farm Michigan Historic Marker Dedication

The cast-metal historic marker for the Leelanau County Poor Farm at Miles Kimmerly County Park has arrived. One side focuses on the farm history and the other on the Barn.

Contribute to historic structures in Leelanau County

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Poor Farm History