VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.
>> Huell: HELLO EVERYBODY I'M HUELL HOWSER AND HERE WE ARE IN OXNARD UP IN VENTURA COUNTRY.
IT'S KIND OF A GRAY OVERCAST DAY, BUT THAT'S OKAY WE'VE COME UP HERE AND WE'RE GOING TOE HAVE AN HONEST TO GOODNESS ADVENTURE.
AND OUR ADVENTURE GUIDE IS PHOTOGRAPHER RON FISHER.
NOW RON ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, YOU STARTED OUT ON A QUEST.
>> YES I DID.
>> Huell: WHEN YOU STARTED THIS, YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BECOME A QUEST.
>> OH NO I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.
>> Huell: IT ALL KIND OF EVOLVED OVERTIME.
>> IT DID.
>> Huell: YOU HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING FOR TWO YEARS, AND HERE'S THE MAP OF VENTURA COUNTY WITH ALL THE LITTLE PINS IN THERE.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE PINS REPRESENTATIVES A PLACE THAT YOU HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Huell: AND THIS PRETTY MUCH COVERS THE WHOLE COUNTY AND HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS THU PHOTOGRAPHED.
>> 111 OF THEM.
>> Huell: 111 OF THEM.
AND SO FAR WE HAVE NOT GIVEN AWAY WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING, BUT THEY'RE WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS.
>> YES, THEY CERTAINLY ARE.
>> Huell: IN THEIR OWN WAY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GROW TO LOVE THEM.
>> THEY GROW ON YOU, YES THEY DO.
>> Huell: AND HERE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROWING ON YOU.
COME ON LET'S TALK OVER HERE.
HERE IT IS -- THIS IS WHAT RON HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING FOR TWO YEARS.
AS THE TRAIN GOES BY AND KIND OF ADS A LITTLE BIT AMBIANCE TO IT, BARNS!
>> BARNS IS RIGHT.
>> Huell: NOW TELL US ABOUT BARNS AND HOW YOU GOT INTERESTED IN THE BARNS OF VENTURA COUNTY?
>> WELL I RUN ACROSS A BARN OVER ON HIGHWAY 118 LOS ANGELES STREET AN OLD BUILDING THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR TEN YEARS AND NOW RUN BY A CEMENT COMPANY, BUT ORIGINALLY A WALNUT FARM.
AND WE WOULD DRIVE BY IT EVERY TIME AND WE WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF IT AND LOOK IT OVER.
AND WONDER WHY NOBODY FIXED.
AND FROM THAT WE THOUGHT I BET THERE IS A LOT OF BARNS IN THIS COUNTY THAT ARE IN THIS SHAPE.
AND ONCE THEY FALL DOWN NOBODY EVER PUTS THEM BACK UP AGAIN.
THEY PUSH THEM AWAY AND IT'S JUNK.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DOCUMENT THEM.
>> Huell: TO KIND OF DOCUMENT THEM.
HOW DID YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO.
DID YOU LITERALLY START DRIVING DOWN ROADS.
>> WE STARTED DRIVING DOWN ROADS AND GO INTO THE BARN AND THE FARMERS COULD COME OUT AND SAY DO YOU HAVE SO AND SO'S BARN.
AND I SAID NO, BUT MAYBE I'LL GO SHOOT THAT ONE.
AND THAT WAS IN THE EARLY STAGES AND WE ENDED UP CLEARLY 111 BARNS.
>> Huell: NOW VENTURA COUNTY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE URBANIZED SO THE BARNS ARE FADING.
>> WE LOST TWO OF THEM IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, BECAUSE OF NEW BUILDINGS, THEY KNOCKED THEM DOWN AND BUILDING HOUSES OVER THEM.
>> Huell: NOW WHEN YOU SHOW UP TO PHOTOGRAPH THE BARNS, HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH BARKING AND BITING DOGS?
HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THEIR BARNS PHOTOGRAPHED?
>> YES.
WE WOULD DRIVE IN ANYHOW, AT LEAST A DOOR TO DOOR SALESMEN.
>> Huell: YOU'RE ONE OF THE PUSHY PHOTOGRAPHERS.
>> YES.
IF NOBODY WAS HOME, I WOULD TAKE A PICTURE AND LEAVE.
ONE MAN YOU SAID, NO YOU WILL NOT TAKE PICTURE OF MY BARN BUT HE HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE CITY AND HE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THE BARNS THE CITY.
I SAID THE HECK WITH IT -- WE HAD ALREADY HAD THE PICTURE.
WE RUN INTO A LOT OF BARKING DOGS.
NEVER BEEN BIT OR SHOT SO FAR IT'S BEEN GOOD.
>> Huell: IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BITTEN OR SHOT YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
>> YES.
>> Huell: LET'S TALK WITH A TALK.
HERE'S A GUY WHO LOOKS LIKE A FRIENDLY BARN OWNERS.
HE'S NOT GOING TO SHOOT YOU OR BITE YOU.
>> WELCOME TO LENNOX RANCH.
>> Huell: TELL US ABOUT YOUR BARN.
THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT HISTORY AND LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE MUCH LONGER.
>> IT MIGHT NOT.
IT'S LEARNING RIGHT NOW.
>> Huell: TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS BARN.
>> FROM WHAT I KNOW, THE FAMILY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 1906 AND WHETHER THEY BUILT THE BARN OR IT WAS PREEXISTING AT THE TIME THEY BOUGHT THE RANCH, I'M NOT SURE.
SOMEWHERE IN THE FAMILY ARCHIVES I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES OF THE FAMILY OF MEMBERS LIFTING UP THE BARN, IT USED TO HAVE A SECOND FLOOR TO STORE THE HAY.
>> Huell: SO THIS HAS BEEN A WORKING BARN IN YOUR FAMILY SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
>> WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS FARMED BY HORSE SXZ SO ON, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR BUILDING THE BARN, TO STORE HAY AND HORSES AFTER THEIR DAY'S WORK.
>> Huell: NOW YOU STILL RUN A FARM.
THIS IS A BIG STRAWBERRY FARM.
>> YOU GOT IT.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS AN OPERATING FARM IN VENTURA COUNTY.
>> IT IS THE DRISCAL STRAWBERRIES.
>> Huell: AND THE BARN IS USED FOR WHAT.
>> AGRICULTURAL STORAGE.
>> Huell: BUT THE BARN IS BEGINNING TO TILT A LITTLE BIT.
>> YES, MOST OF THE WIND IS COMING FROM THAT DIRECTION.
IT'S LEANING WEST, TOWARDS OXNARD.
>> Huell: AND SOME BORDS MISSING.
SO WHY DO YOU KEEP THE OL' BARN UP?
HAVE YOU BECOME ATTACHED TO IT?
>> NOT REALLY.
IT COULD GO.
I WOULD NOT BE FOND OF THE EXPENSE OF TRYING TO RESTORE.
>> Huell: BUT YOU KEPT IT.
>> OH YES, IT'S A ROOF.
IN THAT RECORD IT'S GOT A FUNCTION.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THE TRUCK INTO HERE.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER HOBBY.
THAT'S A PROJECT IN WAITING.
>> Huell: SO YOU LIKE OLD THINGS?
>> I DO, TRUTHFULLY.
>> Huell: HOW DOES HE FIT IN WITH THE BARN OWNERS THAT YOU'VE DELT WITH.
>> HE'S JUST ABOUT ALL THE REST OF THE BARN OWNERS.
THEY'RE ALL EASY GOING PEOPLE HARD WORKING AND LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE AND THESE OLD BARNS, THEY WAIT FOR THEM TO FALL DOWN AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY.
SOME HAVE BURNED DOWN AND SOME FELL DOWN WHEN THE WEATHER GETS TO THEM.
>> Huell: WELL ISN'T IT INTERESTING EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE STILL USING THE BARN THIS BARN IS NOT AS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WHO REALLY DEPENDED ON THE BARN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY HAD TO HAVE SHELTER FOR THE HORSE SXZ A PLACE TO STORE FEED AND THIS OFFERED THAT.
>> Huell: LET'S GET ONE LAST SHOT OF THE BARN.
THIS IS OUR FIRST STOP.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A COUPLE OF MORE HISTORIC BARNS.
IT'S A BEAUTY RIGHT HERE.
IT'S LEANING TO THE RIGHT.
BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE BARNS OF VENTURA COUNTY WHICH ARE VERY VERY MUCH A PART OF THE HISTORY HERE.
>> Huell: OKAY, WE HAVE LEFT OUR FIRST BARN AND WE'RE FOLLOWING RON AND HIS WIFE.
THEY'RE AHEAD OF US IN THEIR VAN.
AND WE HAVE COME TO A WONDERFUL PLACE IN VENTURA COUNTY, THIS IS THE ENTRANCE WAY TO THIS AMAZING PLACE CALLED "RANCHO SANTA CLARA DEL NORTHE" AND JUST THE ENTRANCE RAY TO THIS EL RANCHO, AND LOOK THINK DRIVEWAY THAT TAKES US INTO THIS RANCHO, THERE'S GOT A LOT OF HISTORY HERE.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE BARN IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
HERE IS THE FARM HOUSE RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
>> Huell: OH BOY, THIS IS AMAZING TUCKED BACK HERE OFF OF ONE OF THESE LITTLE FARM ROADS.
THERE IS THE BARN.
WELL YOU'VE OUT DONE YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT US, RON, TO AN AMAZING PLACE.
>> YES, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE PLACES WITH THE BARNS THAT ARE FALLING DOWN AND THE BARNS THAT HAVE NOT FALLEN YET.
>> Huell: WHERE ARE WE?
>> ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF OXNARD AND WE'RE AT THE ESTATE -- HOW'S THE NAME GO AGAIN?
>> IT'S LLOYD BUTLER RANCH.
>> Huell: BUT THE PLAQUE SAID THE RANCHO SANTA CLARA DEL NORTE.
>> THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GRANT.
>> Huell: IT WAS A LAND GRANT?
>> YES, IT WAS A MEXICAN GRANT AND THIS IS WHAT REMAINS OF THE GRANT.
THIS IS WHAT REMAINS OF THE RANCHO SANTA CLARA DEL NORTE.
>> Huell: AND YOUR FAMILY HAD TO á IT FOR HOW LONG.
>> MY MOTHER INHER AT THIS TIMEED-- INHERITED FROM HER UNCLE.
AND HIS BROTHER ACQUIRED IN ABOUT 18 60.
>> Huell: OH MY GOSH, SO IT'S BEEN IN YOUR FAMILY FOR 150 YEARS.
>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Huell: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BARN.
YOUR HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL.
ALL THE OUT BUILDINGS ARE SPECTACULAR BUT THIS BARN -- NOW HOW OLD IS THIS BARN?
>> IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT -- ABOUT I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY BUILT AROUND 1915.
>> Huell: AND WHY WAS IT BUILT FOR?
>> TO HOUSE BELGIUM HORSES AND HAY AND SO FORTH.
>> Huell: THAT'S WHERE THE HAY WOULD HAVE COME IN AT THE TOP.
>> AND IT IT WAS A CORRAL, NOT DURING MY TIME BUT MY FATHER HAD BELGIUM HORSES BACK IN THE EARLY '20s.
>> Huell: SO THIS WAS BUILT AS A HORSE BARN.
>> YES.
>> Huell: AND A WELL BUILT BARN.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL BARN.
>> YES.
>> Huell: AND WHAT WHAT WAS ITS SECONDS LIFE?
>> THEN AND INTO A WALNUT BARN.
>> Huell: SO THIS WAS WALNUT COUNTRY.
>> YES.
>> Huell: AND WHAT IS IT BEING USED FOR TODAY?
>> MAINLY JUST STORAGE.
>> Huell: AND HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?
>> THIS BARN, EVERYBODY IN THE OXNARD PLAIN KNOWS ABOUT THIS BARN AND ABOUT JIM'S PLACE.
BUT WHAT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST PLACE TO GET INTO BECAUSE YOU SAW THE GATES WE HAD TO GET INTO.
I NOUND SOMEBODY THAT NEW JIM, AND THEY SAID COME ON IN AND WE TOOK OUR PICTURES AND THAT WAS IT.
>> Huell: YOU LET HIM?
YOU YOU WERE NOT SUSPICIOUS?
>> NO, RON WAS HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
>> ABOUT.
>> Huell: YOU KNOW DRIVING OVER HERE WE SPOTTED BARNS.
>> OH YES.
>> Huell: WHEN YOU START LOOKING FOR THEM, YOU START SEEING THEM.
>> OH YES, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE FOUND MOST OF THEM.
WE DROVE UP AND BACK THE ROADS.
AND WE WOULD SPOT ONE ME OR MY WIFE AND OFF WE WOULD GO.
>> Huell: IN BARN IS HOLDING OFF PRETTY GOOD.
>> YES.
>> Huell: CAN WE GO INSIDE?
>> SURE.
>> Huell: LET'S GO INSIDE THE BARN.
THERE ARE NOT ANYMORE HORSES OR WALNUT BUT IT SMELLS GOOD IN HERE.
NOW THIS IS FASCINATING.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE JIM?
>> THAT'S A WALNUT DEHYDRATER BIN THE WALNUTS WOULD BE BROUGHT IN FROM THE ORCHARD.
>> Huell: THEY WERE STORED UP IN HERE.
>> YES.
AND THEY WOULD BE HAULED INTO EITHER IN THE FIELD -- IN ABOUT 1939 MY FATHER BOUGHT A WALNUT HALLER THAT WOULD DO IT AUTOMATICALLY.
>> Huell: AND THEN BROUGHT DOWN.
>> THEY WOULD TAKE THE MOISTURE OUT OF THEM AND THEN THEY WOULD BE SACKED --.
>> Huell: THE SACKS WOULD BE HERE?
>> UH-HUH.
IN THE EARLY DAYS THEY SACKED THEM AND THEN THEY WOULD TAKE THEM TO SATA KLOID TO THE WALNUT PACKING PLANT.
>> Huell: SO THIS WAS A BIG WALNUT AREA?
>> OH YES.
>> Huell: AND THIS WHOLE PART OF THE BARN WOULD BE FILLED WITH DRYING WALNUTS.
>> UH-HUH.
>> Huell: NOW WAIT A MINUTE I'M SEEING SOMETHING ACROSS THE WAY.
WAS THIS CONNECTED IN SOME WAY WITH THE WALNUTS?
>> NO, THAT'S JUST -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A CORN HUSKER THAT WAS STORED IN HERE.
>> Huell: SO OLD BARNS ARE FILLED WITH OLD STUFF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: THIS IS SORT OF AN AGRIKUEL-- AGRICULTURALAL STUFF.
>> YES, WE'VE BEEN PLANNING TO GIVE @ HISTORIC MUSEUM BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR IT.
>> Huell: DO YOU FIND THAT WE FOUND AN OLD TRUCK IN JIM'S BARN.
WE FOUND THIS IN YOUR BARN.
>> WE FIND WAGONS, OLD BUCK BOARD, THE OLD BUGGYS, WE FIND THEM IN ALL THESE BARNS.
>> Huell: YEAH.
>> AND PLUS ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
>> Huell: WELL THAT'S PART OF A BARN, AIN'T IT?
>> IT'S TRUE.
>> Huell: LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON, NOW -- BACK HERE.
NOW YOU GET THE IDEA OF WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN STORED AND ALL OF THE BINS.
THIS IS REALLY A FLASH BACK TO SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY DOES NOT EVEN HAPPEN IN VENTURA COUNTY ANYMORE, DOES IT?
>> NO THE ONLY WALNUTS ARE IN THE UPPER OHAI.
>> Huell: YEAH.
>> THIS PART OF A DEHYDRATER WAS BUILT IN THE '20s.
AND WE CALLED IT THE NEW DEHYDRATER BUILT IN THE 1930s.
>> Huell: WOW, YOU STARTED OUT ON A BARN JOURNEY, BUT YOU FOUND A HISTORIC JOURNEY.
>> I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT OL' BARN COUNTRY HERE.
>> Huell: WE'RE STANDING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WONDERFUL OLD BARN BUILT IN... >> IN ABOUT 1915.
>> Huell: STARTD AS A HORSE BARN AND THEN A WALNUT BARN AND NOW JUST A STORAGE THAT'S A WONDERFUL PART OF VENTURA COUNTY HISTORY.
>> WHAT A PLACE TO HOLD A WEDDING.
>> Huell: A WEDDING!
>> WE GET A REQUEST THAT WANTS TO HOLD A WEDDING.
EVERY TIME YOU GO IN THE INTERNET TO HOLD WEDDINGS IN.
>> Huell: YOU HAVE NOT HAD ANY WEDDING.
>> NOT IN HERE.
>> Huell: I THINK YOU BETTER DUST IT OFF BEFORE YOU HAVE WEDDINGS HERE.
>> Huell: I THOUGHT WE WERE OUT OF HERE.
BUT I MADE THE MISTAKE OF GOING UP THE STAIRS, THERE IS ANOTHER WHOLE STORY UP HERE.
>> ANOTHER WHOLE WORLD UP HERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION, THE SOLIDNESS, YOU CAN NOT KNOCK THIS DOWN WITH A BULL DOSEER.
>> >> Huell: THIS USED TO BE FILLED WITH HAY.
>> YES.
>> Huell: I AM NOW HAVING MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER'S FARM, WE USE TO PLAY IN THE HAY.
>> WE WOULD DO THE SAME THING.
WE WOULD RIDE IN THROUGH THE BIG DOORS WHERE THEY UNLOADED HAY AND WE WOULD BE RIGHT BEHIND IT DIVING IN.
>> Huell: BOY THESE THINGS BRING BACK A FLOOD OF MEMORIES.
>> THIS BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE ORIGINAL BARNS.
I'M NOT FAMILY WITH WALNUTS BUT I AM WITH HAY BARN AND THIS IS A HAY BARN TO ME.
AND I LOVE IT HERE HERE.
>> Huell: THERE IS NO HERE, BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF MEMORIES AND YOU CAN PROJECT BACK TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO WHEN IT WAS FULL OF HAY.
>> ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL ON THESE BARNS.
WHEN THEY'RE GONE IN 30 OR 0 YEARS, ALL THE BARNS WILL BE GONE AND IT WILL JUST BE A MEMORY.
AND THIS WAY BY TAKING PICTURES THEY'LL STILL BE AROUND FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE GRANDCHILDREN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THEM NOW.
>> Huell: WE'VE STILL GOT ONE MORE BARN TO SEE.
UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE HERE YOU WANT TO TELL ME ABOUT.
>> WE HAD A REGULAR HAY STORAGE BARN AT ONE TIME, WITH YOUBUT IT BURNED DOWN IN ABOUT 1950.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS IT FOR THIS BARN.
>> YES, THIS IS JIM'S GOOD OL' BARN.
>> Huell: NOW WE MOVE ONTO BARN NUMBER 3.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER.
RON HAS BROUGHT US TO THE BARN THAT'S OWNED BY MARSHA AND LYNN MOLHEART.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> Huell: THIS IS A NICE WHITE BARN.
>> IT WAS BUILT IN 1908 BY MY GRANDFATHER FOR 12,000.
AND IT'S A CENTER CUT CEDAR AND IT WAS THE LARGEST BARN OF ILTS TYPE WHEN IT WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1900s.
>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LARGEST BARN OF ITS TYPE.
>> THE SECRET IS UPSTAIRS, WE HAD IT PRIOR THE TURN OF CENTURY, WE HAD 2-25 MULE TEAMS, THAT WE HOUSED ON EACH SIDE.
AND WE FED THEM THROUGH DOORS AND THE PATOX WERE ON THE FAR SIDE ON THIS SIDE AND THE MULES WERE USED TO DRIVE THE THRASHER MACHINE.
>> Huell: THERE ARE NO MULES I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF HORSES PEEKING OUT.
>> NO MULES NOW, WE'VE GOT HORSES FOR RECREATION BUT MY GRANDFATHER USED MULES.
>> Huell: BOY IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BARN IN GREAT SHAPE.
BUT UNDERSTOOD TO APPRECIATE THE BARN, RON SAYS WE HAVE TO GO INSIDE THE BARN.
>> WE HAVE TO GO INSIDE THE BARN.
>> Huell: CAN WE DO THAT.
>> WE CAN DO THAT.
>> Huell: LET'S GO INSIDE THE BARN.
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BARN.
IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE?
>> 1908.
>> Huell: 1908.
WE'RE INSIDE THE BARN AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST BARN I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE.
>> THIS IS 66-90, IT'S ESSENTIALLY TWO BASKETBALL COURTS BY SIDE.
MY AUNT WHO IS PASSED AWAY NOW, HAD A TENNIS COURT.
>> Huell: INSIDE A BARN.
>> SHE BUILT HERSELF A TENNIS COURT.
WE ADDED BASKETBALL FOR THE KIDS BUT MY AUNT HAD A TENNIS.
>> Huell: HOW MUCH HAY CAN YOU PUT IN HERE.
>> AT ONE TIME WE HAD 80 TONS OF HAY.
>> Huell: GOSH.
>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE HAY IS LOADED UP AND SCORED AND MY GRANDFATHER BUILT THE BARN SO ALL THE HAY CAN BE STORED INDOORS UNLIKE HAVING HAY STORED OUTSIDE DOORS.
AND THEN THEY BUILT --.
>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN DOORS?
>> THESE ARE DOORS, THIS ONE WE SEALED BUT THEY WOULD OPEN UP BOTH SAY.
>> Huell: AND DROP THE HAY RIGHT DOWN HERE.
>> TWO MULES.
>> Huell: FOR THE 25-MULE TEAM THAT YOU HAD DOWNSTAIRS.
>> WE HAD A SET OF MULES ON BOTH SIDES AND THAT'S HOW THEY WERE FED.
>> Huell: I'VE NEVER SEEN A BARN THIS KID.
YOUR KIDS MUST HAVE SPENT ALL THEIR TIME UP HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY YEAH.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
>> Huell: DO YOU USE IT FOR ANYTHING TODAY?
IT'S SITTING HERE EMPTY?
>> THE KIDS USE IT FOR BASKETBALL.
OUR SON RIDES HIS BICYCLE UP HERE.
THE RAMP THAT YOU CAME IN, WE WOULD PUSH THE CARTS AND GLIDE DOWN AND ONCE A YEAR WE HAVE A DANCE FOR THE WIFE'S CLUB.
>> THIS IS A GREAT PLACE.
>> Huell: OH THIS IS THE BROTHER.
YOU HAVE BARN STORIES HERE.
>> OH YEAH, WE DID A LOT OF TROUBLE IN HERE.
>> Huell: MAYBE WE SHOULD SHOULD QUIT WHILE HERE AHEAD.
IT WAS BUILT?
>> MY GRANDFATHER, LUIS.
>> Huell: HE WOULD BE PROUD.
>> YES, AND WE WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN IT AND ONE YEAR WE TERMITE IT.
>> AND WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS.
WE O DO A COMPLETE PRESENTATION.
>> Huell: BECAUSE KIDS WOULD NOT KNOW ABOUT BARNS.
>> OH NO.
WE DO THAT AND I DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>> Huell: AND IF THEY GET BOARD, THEY CAN ALWAYS PLAY BASKETBALL OR TENNIS.
>> YES.
YAY!
>> NOPE.
NO.
>> Huell: WELL WE'RE ENDING UP IN FRONT OF ANOTHER WONDERFUL HISTORIC NEED OL' BARN.
RON, WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS ONE.
THEY ALL HAVE STORIES.
>> ALL OF THEM.
AND EVERY ONE OF THESE BARNS IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD OR RIGHT AROUND THERE.
THIS WAS AN OLD WALNUT BARN AT THE TIME.
>> Huell: UH-HUH.
>> >> ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN A HAY BARN ALSO.
SO THEY GREW ALFALFA.
>> Huell: YOU WERE TELLING ME THE ROOF IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT HAS A NAME TO IT.
>> IT'S CALLED A HIP ROOF BARN.
SO THE RAIN CAN COME FROM TOP AND TO THE LOWER LEVEL, THEY STILL HAVE VENTILATION.
>> Huell: AND THAT'S CALLED A WHAT?
>> A HIP ROOF.
>> Huell: A HIP ROOF.
>> YES.
>> Huell: WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THIS BARN.
IT LOOKS DESERTED AND A LITTLE WORSE?
>> IT IS DESERTED AND IT'S GOING TO BE TORN DOWN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY A STRAWBERRY PRODUCER COMPANY AND THEY'RE GOING TO NRANT STRAWBERRIES.
>> Huell: SO THIS WILL BE GONE.
>> IT WILL BE GONE.
>> Huell: A LOT OF THESE BARNS WILL BE GONE.
>> YES, MANY OF THEM.
EVERY DAY I HEAR OF ANOTHER BARN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET RID OFF ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
>> Huell: WELL YOU OUGHT TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DONE.
I KNOW IT STARTD AS AN ACCIDENT BUT IT AS GROWN INTO YOUR PASSION AND INTO SOMETHING YOUR GOING TO SHARE WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT BARNS LOOK LIKE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK AT TRACTION IS THAT BARNS HAVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND PEOPLE WHO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THEM AND MARBLE AT THEM.
>> I THINK IT'S ARCHITECTURE BUT MOST OF IT IS NAS TALTION IOSTALGIA -- NOSTALGIA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GREW UP PLAYING IN THEM.
>> Huell: WELL THEY'RE PART OF OUR PAST.
PART OF OUR HISTORY.
PART OF YOUR LIFES.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Huell: HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE SAVING THEM.
YOU'VE SHOT HOW MANY?
>> 111 BARNS.
>> Huell: YOU THINK THERE IS MORE OUT THERE.
>> I THINK I GOT THEM ALL.
FROM THE DUCK BARNS DOWN IN THE OCEAN TO UPPER OHAI AND BACK IN THERE.
SO WE THINK WE'VE GOT PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM.
IF ANYBODY'S HEARSE THIS AND KNOWS OF ONE THAT THEY THINK I DON'T HAVE.
LOOK AT MY MAP.
>> Huell: CONGRATULATIONS YOU'VE DONE A GREAT SERVICE FOR US AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THESE BARNS THAT ARE FAST DISS A DISAPPEARING.
LET'S STAND OUT OF THE WAY AND PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THIS OL' BARN THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR 100 YEARS AND GETTING READY TO LEAVING SOON.
IT'S GONE, IT WILL BE GONE BUT THANKS TO RON AND HIS PHOTOGRAPHERS, THIS OL' BARN AND LOTS OF OTHERS HERE IN VENTURA COUNTY WILL DEFINITELY NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.