"It will not always be summer: build barns."
-Hesiod
The Tuttle Barn is the only remnant of the Tuttle farm and marks the existence of the once-thriving agricultural life in 19th-century Freeport. The patchwork of interconnected farm neighborhoods on this landscape is no longer visible but the restoration of the Tuttle Barn helps us tell the story and preserves a unique and essential piece of this history that would otherwise be lost forever.
One of the reasons why we save old barns is because of the embodied energy of the original effort that went into building and working in it. If you think about the tree itself, that takes us back to when it was standing 350 years ago. We in the present can feel the energy of that living tree used to create the structure that was used by different people over the course of 250 years. There’s no other illustration of history, there’s no book, there’s no movie, there’s no documentary about history that illustrates history better than that.
-Arron Sturgis
Preservation Timber
The Tuttle Barn was a centerpiece of Maine geology and history, standing as a resilient witness to the changing landscape for over a century. Originally a functional part of the 19th-century Tuttle homestead, this structure survived the encroaching glacial sand dunes that eventually transformed the fertile farm into one of the most unique places in Maine. The barn was taken down in 2022, but its beams have been preserved. When it is rebuilt and restored, it will serve as an essential educational attraction in Maine, offering a tangible connection to the past and a stark visual of how the emerging desert once threatened to bury the family’s livelihood.
One of the reasons why we save old barns is because of the embodied energy of the original effort that went into building and working in it. If you think about the tree itself, that takes us back to when it was standing 350 years ago. We in the present can feel the energy of that living tree used to create the structure that was used by different people over the course of 250 years. There’s no other illustration of history, there’s no book, there’s no movie, there’s no documentary about history that illustrates history better than that.
Arron Sturgis
Preservation Timber
Restoring a landmark where forest and desert meet
We are breathing new life into the historic Tuttle Barn to preserve a vital chapter of Maine geology and history. As a centerpiece of one of the most unique places in Maine, this 19th-century structure is undergoing a meticulous restoration to protect the original timber-frame craftsmanship that survived the encroaching glacial sand dunes. This project will ensures that this hidden gem remains a premier educational attraction in Maine, allowing future generations to step inside a landmark that witnessed the dramatic transformation of a fertile homestead into an iconic Maine tourist attraction.
A Breathtaking Performing Arts Venue and Retreat Center
Spearheaded by our non-profit Center for Arts and Ecology, the restored Tuttle Barn will provide an essential place for education, creativity, and immersive performances aimed at connecting our community to the lessons of the past.
Get in touch about becoming a founding donor.
Future Forward
The Desert is a visible reminder of the complex choices that people faced in the past, not unlike some of the challenges that face us today. European-style farming had been stripping top soil in New England since the early days of colonization. And while it may seem plausible that people “didn’t know any better” when the Tuttles farmed here in the 1800s, in fact farmers were well aware that their fields would “run out” if they continued to remove crops year after year and “put nothing back.” So why did they continue a way of life that jeopardized the health of the land? These are the very kinds of questions we need to be asking ourselves today. Ponder this and more as you wander the site.
