The Star Barn has been an important part of the Central Pennsylvania landscape
since master carpenter and designer Daniel Reichert built it for banker and gentleman farmer John
Motter. This majestic three-level Carpenter Gothic structure is the last remaining of the 15
monumental barns built in Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties. The agricultural history of the
land the Star Barn rests on, dates to the sale of the property by the Penn family in 1765. While the
basic form of the Star Barn is typical of central Pennsylvania, late nineteenth century barns, its
architectural details make it conspicuous. Larger than most barns in Central Pennsylvania, it has
three threshing floors rather than the more usual two. It is also taller than the typical barns of
the area. The additional height allowed for an extra floor where hay or grain sheaves could be stored
above the threshing floors. The height of the ground or first floor is also about two feet higher
than usual. This ceiling height, the cross paneling of the Dutch doors, the chamfering of the floor
joists and ventilator posts all indicate that this was meant to be an exhibition or show area, most
likely for Motter’s [the original owner] prize horses. The barn’s cupola was topped with a
weathervane punched with hearts and arrows and inscribed with Motter’s name and the date of
construction. The Star Barn four-building complex was sold to nonprofit farm-preservation
organization Agrarian Country for an undisclosed amount and is tentatively scheduled to be dismantled
in spring of 2008 and moved to an undetermined location. Under terms of the sales agreement, the
entire complex of buildings in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County, will be carefully dismantled,
relocated and reassembled somewhere in south central Pennsylvania to become the centerpiece of a
large agricultural exhibition and conference center. The barn will be raised exactly as it was
originally built, with reconstruction trusted to American Timber Framers Guild, a
Massachusetts-based, nonprofit member association specializing in the centuries-old craft of timber
framing. The guild will reassemble the buildings using the same techniques from the 1870s, which
includes the use of draft horses, mules and oxen. We will miss the Star Barn in Middletown, PA. But
at least we know it will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
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