This poem was written by Elenore ( Irwin ) WILLIAMS of Tustin, Michigan in August 1911 when she was 69 years old. She died in 1927 at the age of 85 in Tustin. Elenore was born in Byron Center in 1842 to David and Margaret (Gunn) IRWIN. THE PIONEER BARN RAISING In 1848 my father built a barn near Byron Center, On the “Old Stonehouse Farm.” John BARNEY was the carpenter, Who built the barn complete. He said, “ Johnny cake and deer meat”, Them days was no treat. For this pioneer barb raising, Father barbecued a deer. And some of those same old settlers, Today are with us here. For brother David had invited, Friends and neighbors to the farm. To have a real good visit, And re-raise father’s pioneer barn. I went down to Byron Center, To visit my old dear home, And saw many familiar faces. Around the place my father owned. After they had all arrived, There were one hundred and thirty three. And to my delight, Many of them remembered me. John BARNEY is with us today, As has already been told. He framed and built this barn for father, sixty three years ago. Calvin GIBBS is the carpenter, Who made over the barn his way, And this is the barn that we, Are going to re-raise today. He said I never shot a deer, And never carried a gun, And when started off to work, He always went on the run. George S. THOMAS, was one of the pioneers there, And with him are his wife ( Julia ), and daughters fair ( Nellie and Eva ) There was Robert WILLIAMS, a soldier of ‘61 Who told of the battle at Gettysburg, And how the fight was won. Messers. HAMILTON, GREEN, and UTTER, All soldiers in ‘63, They came down to raise the the barn, And chatted a while with me. Here is William TAYLOR of mine, Well he remembers when they cut the tall pine. They drew the logs to the town of Heth, Where some of the people lived, who didn’t starve to death. Adam ANDRES and his wife, Way from Salem came. They are old and feeble, But are with us just the same. Brother David could not give us venison to eat. So he went out into the meadow and selected a nice fat sheep. After a while sister Mary said, “ I will cook the mutton steak”, If Eilien and Julia, Will make the Johnny cake. Eva made the coffee, While Nellie cooked the beans, Lottie and Rachel set the table, While Hallie and Rebecca filled tureens, When supper was ready, It just suited me. For Johnny cake and mutton, nowadays you seldom see. When I looked over the table, Out under the shady tree, I saw seated all around it, Faces all good to see. Henry SKINNER helped the ladies out a lot, For you know he is very handy, Where there is a coffee pot, Seated at one side of the bench, At this barn raising feast, Were a Brother MCGINNIS, And a Roman Catholic Priest. The only accident happened, To mar this festive day, Was when the bench broke, And they all hit the hay. A wheel barrow being handy, It soon was fixed alright. We had a grand old visit, And with handshakes went on our way. All hoping to meet together, At some future day.