The Robbins-Melcher-Schatz Farmstead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Schatz Farmstead barn is a gambrel barn that was built in 1909.
The property was first owned by Nathaniel and Nancy Robbins, who built a home and barn on it in 1860. They sold the property in 1876 to Christian and Augusta Melcher. It is said that Christian Melcher burned down the barn and another house on the property in order to collect the insurance money and was jailed for his crimes.
Wilhelm and Elizabeth Schatz immigrated to the United States from Russia to South Dakota. They moved to Oregon in 1892 and purchased this property, where they raised a large family as well as chickens, cows, apples, pears, hops and grapes. The family transported fruit, butter, cream and eggs to the markets in Portland via horse-drawn wagon. They owned and worked the farm for 65 years.
Their sons Jake and John built this barn. Everything used to build the barn was hand-hewn, a rare technique for that time period. Except for the cupola, which was replaced in 1982, the original barn remains. Today, a herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats and a llama live at the barn.
Resources