The Merry Barn has a rich history in Midcoast Maine. Built in the early 20th century for the Merrys, a family of shipbuilders and captains. The barn is an impressive 2,200 square feet with several handsome neo-classical features, including a cupola and front-facing pediment. The barn was passed down through the generations of until it was sold to Howie Davison. Howie converted this cheery, yellow barn into a popular dance hall in the mid-1950s. Crowds as large as 600 individuals, traveling from as far away as Lewiston, would pack into the barn for dancing - mainly square dancing with Howie doing the calling - transforming the structure into a genuine community landmark. The dance hall closed in the 1970s and since then the barn has had several different owners and uses including, notably, as a workshop for McSwain’s steeplejack business. The barn was very well-built, and has been lovingly maintained by all its stewards.
In 2015, Stephanie McSherry bought the barn with the dream of opening a literacy center in the space. Four years later, after a successful adaptive use rehabilitation project, Merry Barn Writers’ Retreat & Educational Consulting, LLC opened its doors. Some highlights of the project to convert the barn for use as a literacy center include making the basement and first floor handicapped accessible, installing a well and septic system, and adding plumbing and bathrooms - increasing the utility of the building. Staircases were rebuilt to be code complaint, structural upgrades to the floor framing were completed to reinforce the space, partition walls were added for a first-floor classroom, and kitchen and heating and cooling systems were upgraded.
All work on the structure was executed with care so as to not disrupt the historic integrity of the barn. This care is evident when looking at the exterior of the barn which remains much the same as it did when the barn was converted into the dance hall over sixty years ago. On the interior, the wood flooring and wooden beam support-system were preserved.
Community support has been overwhelming. Past owners of the barn, including the Davisons, Ellinwoods, and McSwains, have been involved in the project and supportive of its mission. The Merry Barn Writers' Retreat officially opened on June 29, and is now hosting events for children and the community. People routinely stop by the barn to share their stories and express their gratitude that the barn has been brought back to life as a significant community gathering space.
Project Participants
Stephanie McSherry, Owner
Neal Groton, Groton Construction
Dan Phelps, Phelps Architects, Inc
Michael Cunningham, Lincoln Haney Engineering Associates
David Haskell, Haskell & Sons Builders
Wayne & Brandon Northrup, Northrup Builders
Gary Arsenault, Northern Lights Electric
Dave Steton, Structure, LLC
Kimberly Skillin Traina, jumpstart creative
