Pamela Whitney Gray spent most of her career in commercial art and the printing industry. In later years she enjoyed her position as an assistant librarian in a small library in Colorado. After twenty years in the Rocky Mountains Pam returned to Mount Vernon to spend time with her parents in their golden years. She is the daughter of Charles W. “Chuck” (1918-2009) and Edith Whitney. Chuck was the original Barn Consultant. Pam says, “I had the pleasure of being my father’s chauffeur, ‘go-fer’ and main ‘right-hand-man’.” Pam and her father spent many days traveling Ohio and the surrounding states doing barn inspections and helping barn owners to understand and save their barns.
She enjoyed hearing about many of the old ways from her Dad. These were wonderful learning experiences and she soon realized she had the same passion as he did for barns and their history. She is continuing her Dad’s work, helping to save old barns and to spread the story they tell of our agricultural heritage.
In 2008 Pam and her Dad took on a challenge to develop a power point program about the history of barns for a Barn Conference in Licking County. After the research was done Chuck was impressed the amount of information and the way it was laid out. He proposed that it be developed into a book to help educate an even broader range of people about the historical importance of America’s barnyard castles.
Americanization of the Family Barn was released in December of 2009.The book discusses the cultural influences from the Old Country and environmental influences the settlers faced after they arrived in the New World. It gives a brief overall view of the evolution of barns. A list of barn features in the book helps to identify the similarities of barns in farming neighborhoods from your very own car window while driving the countryside.
After giving her presentation to several groups, it has captured the interest of libraries and organizations across Ohio. Pam will be busy all summer and fall traveling the state spreading the word on the history and value family barns while also continuing to do barn inspections and working one-on-one with families to help them to understand and preserve their agriculture heritage.
Another book is in the works. Chuck always dreamed of writing a book on barns. In the years before Chuck’s passing they worked on bringing all his writings together in one comprehensive volume, but as too often happens, it always seemed to be put on the back burner when it came to traveling and inspections. So Pam is now working on finishing it for him.
Pam is proud and honored to once again team up with the Knox County Barn Tour to present the 2010 Tour. This year the Tour will be centered in the southwest corner of the county. It is a self guided driving tour that is admission free. Families have the opportunity to spend as much or as little time at each stop as they wish. Each stop also has special events that will enhance the total family farm experience. It features six barns varying in age from the oldest built in the 1830s to the youngest constructed in the 1920s. From barns that are still in agricultural use to ones that are being remodeled and re-purposed. We hope you will attend and enjoy the day with family and friends out on the farm.