LIVERMORE — Directors of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center launched a campaign Monday to raise the remaining $250,000 needed to build a barn.

A barn and the farmer’s cottage were lost in an accidental fire on April, 28, 2008. The cottage was rebuilt and opened in 2011.

The center is a nonprofit living museum, dedicated to the preservation of 19th-century rural Maine heritage and the history of the Israel Washburn family.

Volunteers, directors and others are working on the “Raise the barn — Rebuild the Magic” campaign.

This is the second phase of the project. The foundation was poured in 2010, when work on the farmer’s cottage began.

They have $200,000 toward the $500,000 needed to complete the barn. The design is based on a 1867 version of the barn that will be about 40 by 90 feet.

For decades, schoolchildren from Maine and beyond have visited the mansion, school house, library and barn to learn what it was like to live centuries ago, and to work on a farm.

The reconstruction of the barn is an integral part of the program, Maine State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. said during the event.

When Shettleworth was fresh out of graduate school, one of his first projects was to develop a plan for the preservation of Norlands. In 1973, he was approached by the late Billie Gammon of Livermore, the founder of the Norlands, with the research she had done on the family, including seven prominent Washburn brothers and their role in Maine’s history.

“Preserving and promoting history is important,” state Rep. L. Gary Knight, R-Livermore, said. “You all know that, and that is why you are here.”

People had gathered in the Meeting House at Norlands for the campaign. He shared some of the history of the Washburn brothers, as well as Maine’s role during the Civil War. He also spoke about the strength of Maine people.

The barn burned, and Norlands has had to deal with the difficulties but it will be rebuilt and Norlands will remain, he said.

“We have persevered. We have risen from the ashes. We have the community to thank for that,” Norlands director Sheri Leahan said. “We are forever indebted to the Livermore Fire Department and the nine other departments” that helped save the Norlands mansion and artifacts.

Leahan said they have $200,000 toward the barn and have signed a contract with Maine Mountain Timber Frames in Strong to frame the barn and make it a weather-tight shell.

The company was chosen through a competitive process, Leahan said.

The second phase will be to finish the barn.

Leahan showed a couple of videos produced by Phil Poirier and narrated by Paul Haley. One showed people talking about the history of Norlands and the importance a barn plays on a working farm and the educational component it has for children.

Willie Irish, who volunteers at Norlands, said on the video that the barn is the heart and soul of a farm.

“It’s a magical place — a barn,” she said.

In the other video, called “Fire Night,” people talk about the fire. Both videos can be viewed at www.norlands.org.

Leahan said there are online components to this year’s campaign that are also on the website. People can donate in various ways from cash donations to material to pledges. They can donate using credit cards or transfer stocks to Norlands. Information on how to donate is listed on the website that will feature a campaign page. Giving perks have also been developed.

“We have a ways to go. I believe we can do it,” Leahan said.

She also said they have received donations of $500 from the Livermore Falls Women’s Club and a $7,250 grant from the Maine Community Foundation. They are also selling T-shirts at the gift store for $15 and also will sell peg sponsorships for $25 each. People can write messages on the wooden pegs that will be used to build the barn.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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