If the casual passerby noticed the old barn behind the Burroughs family home, they might have concluded that it needed to be torn down before its imminent collapse under its own weight and years. Bob and Ann Burroughs saw something quite different in the 100 year old barn behind their Rose Avenue residence in Ferndale.
The Burroughs, along with their architect Thomas Bond, saw the opportunity to create a comfortable living space that suited Bob and Ann, while leaving the family farmhouse on the front of the property available for their son Darin and his family.
With the help of master house mover George Kurwitz, the dilapidated structure was carefully braced and lifted several feet off the ground so that Pacific Builders could install a concrete foundation underneath.
The new foundation allowed the house to be stable enough to withstand future earthquakes that the little town of Ferndale is famous for, and allowed the rest of the reconstruction and remodeling to proceed.
The end result is a charming living space that offers modern comforts, without completely erasing the buildings past as a typical farm structure. Along with their new living space, the Burroughs were able to get studio space for their art projects and a comfortable farmhouse style covered porch to enjoy the views of the surrounding dairy lands.
