Kitty Kat's big red barn has another life left in it
TANGENT, Ore. - When John Bass passed away in 1983, he left the big red barn on his property and $70,000 in maintenance funds to an unlikely heir: his cat Kitty Kat.
Kitty Kat went on to live another 10 years with the help of a caretaker, then the city of Tangent took over the property after Kitty died.
Now the maintenance fund has run out and the residents in the Willamette Valley town voted down a tax levy to maintain the barn, built in 1922 by farmers Herbert and Jane Borden. Bass bought the land in 1946.
The city was planning to tear it down until Beth Timmons came along. She became determined to save the historic barn after hearing the story about Kitty Kat, the property-owning cat.
Timmons now wants to save the barn by moving it to her property about three quarters of a mile away.
The City of Tangent said great: we'll sell you the barn for a buck, you pay to move it. The move will cost Timmons thousands, but she says it's all worth it.
"I don't think we have a lot of barns like this still intact from these early days," she explained. "I think by preserving this history you preserve the history and the memory of the people in the valley that came before us."
Emmert International of Clackamas arrived on scene Friday to prepare for the Oct. 7 move. The windows have been carefully removed and labeled, although the bulk of the barn will be moved intact.
Timmons only has a limited amount of time to finish the project. If it rains, the fields will become impassable and soon farmers in the area will need to start planing.
She plans to use the barn to host fairs, markets, movies and meetings while always remembering the legacy of the barn.
KVAL.com reporter Tom Adams contributed to this report
Oh gosh...bless John and little Kitty Kat too. I know they're together now, playing and cuddling with one another. I so hope this wonderful structure will survive. You see them back east and in the midwest...and to have something like this, moved, rebuilt and functioning for the community....it's just wonderful :) These barns are part of our heritage....they need to be kept standing if at all possible.
Â
What a neat old barn! You don"t see barns like that much anymore.
I'm fairly certain that the farmers will be "planTing" soon.
"...and soon farmers in the area will need to start planing."
Â
'zat a fact? I thought carpenters planed. Hmm...ya learn sumpthin' new every day! ;-)
Â
Good luck to Ms Timmons and her "new" old Red Barn!
I applaud her for trying to save the barn! Too much of our history has been lost by burning or tearing down old homes and barns just because they are old; doesn't mean they are not worth saving. I have a cousin that just built a new house, and plans to tear down a beautiful old house that really should be restored; he thinks it isn't worth it, and it breaks my heart. We restored and updated a house that was built in the late 19-teens, a Montgomery Wards kit house, and many people asked me why we didn't tear it down and replace it - it would have cost way more to do that, and we'd have lost some history in the process
@musiclover Thank You!!!!! I'm in total agreement w/ you on saving older homes!! I wouldn't have a new one that's built w/ chewing gum, staples & glue!!! I love older homes cuz they have character & would hold up in a big windstorm.Â
Too bad the cat couldn't write a will. This seems like a blatant misuse of private property. Then she wants to take it to make money of it. Shame.
 @on shing dao So sad that your assumption is that "she wants to take it to make money of it". Perhaps you missed the parts about "keeping it for the community".
 @LinnCoFarmer Yes, so she can make money by "keeping it for the community".
I'd rather see stories like this than murders, rapes,stabbings, etc.,etc. day after day after day....that gets
to be tooooooooooooo much!!!!!! A sweeet story like that is a relief to read.!!
Â
I happen to think this is a sweet story.
Some times no news is better than this! On the other hand, if I could, I would nominate this story's report for some type of Pulitzer Award! Not!
Pull over, Wilbur, there is a barn following us on this road.
That certainly was a barn-burner of a story.