What started in a torpedo factory in Alexandria, Va., has morphed into a terrific example of art meeting big dreams in Uniontown, about 16 miles south of Pullman on Highway 195.
The “stop the van!” moment came when hundreds of well-aged metal wheels along a fence came into view. Those travelers who took a photograph and drove on missed an interesting stop.
The barn behind the fence, empty for 50 years, has been transformed by a determined town with a vision into Artisans of the Dahmen Barn.
Manager Leslee Miller had seen the Virginia torpedo factory that had been turned into artists’ spaces and took the idea back to the town’s community development association.
The association had already restored the 110-year-old Jacobs Building into a craftsman-style bakery and cafe, leased by the Sage Baking Co.
When Steve and Junette Dahmen saw the transformation of that building, they donated their dairy barn to the community. More than 1,000 wheels along a fence came with the package, wheels that Steve Dahmen had collected for more than 30 years.
But a dilapidated three-story dairy barn was a completely different challenge from a downtown building.
“Pigeons inhabited the second floor. There was a foot of pigeon droppings. The roof was virtually gone. There was no plumbing or electricity. It was leaning to the north and east, a foot in both directions,” Miller said.
Structural engineer Jennifer Anthony from Fearless Engineering in Montana found the solution.
“Finally she said, ‘I get it. It’s a tent. It moves with the winds … it’s a beam and cable system,’” said Julie Hartwig, manager of the gift shop that sells work from more than 100 area artists.
Miller agreed. “She nailed it right away. She told us to build a timber frame inside of the structure that would hold it in place.”
The locals overcame every difficulty to create a well-lit, spacious, friendly interior for 19 artists sharing nine studios, each artist spending at least eight hours a week on site.
The floor on the ground level has radiant heat and a new elevator for accessibility.
“It’s our pride and joy. All the work on the barn has been done with grants and private donations,” Miller said.
Portrait work, textile art, screen printing of Palouse country subjects, woodworking, quilting of different styles, handmade clothing and different techniques in painting and drawing just scratch the surface of the artists’ offerings.
Upstairs, there’s room for studios, dances, concerts, special exhibits and other community events, with loft seating on old church pews. The Hog Heaven Band performs monthly.
“We were overwhelmed by the response by regional artists to what we were trying to do, (and) before we had the second-floor spaces finished, artists signed up.” Miller said.
“It’s just been amazing. It was an experiment that we didn’t know would work.”
Columnist Sharon Wootton is co-author of “Off the Beaten Path: Washington.” She may be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
If you go
Information: Dahmen Barn, 509-229-3414, www.artisanbarn.org.
Churchyard Inn: Former parish house and convent-turned B&B next to St. Boniface Church; 800-227-2804; www.churchyardinn.com.
Eleanor’s Corner Saloon: Best burgers in the Palouse? It’s usually standing-room only and a long wait on football weekends at Washington State University.
Sage Bakery: Specialty breads, scones and pastries.
St. Boniface Catholic Church: The oldest consecrated Catholic Church (1910) in the state; open daily.
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