Door Prairie Barn

LaPorte County
Written By Christie Browning

Marion J. Ridgeway built this nine-sided "round" barn in 1878 on a farm that had been in his family since 1831. Mr. Ridgeway saw a need for driving and work horses so he traveled to England, Scotland and France to purchase the finest quality breeding stock. His barn was built to house these fine horses.

The Ridgeways named their barn and farm "Door Prairie". The name relates to the natural opening in the dense forest through which the French explorers came in the 1600s. "The Door" in French is LaPorte.

The barn is no longer in use. It has been carefully restored and maintained and is occasionally open for tours.

I arrived very early one foggy morning in August 2010. Capturing the barn in the soft and muted atmosphere presented by the fog was a challenge. I worked as quickly as possible as the fog wafted away. Standing quietly and focused on painting led to a happy surprise; two curious fawns crept closer and closer while I stood as still as possible. They came within about fifteen feet then quickly bounded away. I chose a canvas 18 x 36 inches for this oil painting.

All the barn paintings are for sale.  Please contact Gwen to find out if the painting(s) you are interested in are sold or available.

Christie Browning

Christie is a five-time HSPA award-winning writer with a long resume of creative, compelling writing. Her background includes journalism and marketing, which allows her to bring a specialized voice to the pieces created for her clients. On her own, Christie has written for newspapers, online magazines and major publications. For her clients, Christie produces web designs, press and media releases, blog articles, downloadable worksheets and flyers as well as social media content. Her long-time career as an entrepreneur gives her unique insight into what her clients need to promote their products, services and messages.

https://www.contentbyrequest.com
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