Terry Farm, Barn, 45 Ebey Road, Coupeville, Island County, WA

HABS documented the original Terry Farm house in the 1930s. It has since been moved from the property. See HABS No. WA-102 for photographs of the house.
Significance: With the passing of the Donation Land Claim Act in 1850, Congress agreed to grant land in the Oregon Territory to American settlers willing to farm it. It was during this time when settlement of Central Whidbey Island accelerated, and when Thomas S. Davis staked his claim on 162 acres of prairie south of Penn Cove. In 1862, the claim was divided and sold to Charles Terry and William B. Engle. Soon after, Terry bought out Engle's share, and began farming. Terry had an orchard of 1,000 prune trees, and began a drying business on the waterfront of Coupeville. The farm passed to his son-in-law, Ben Tufts, who continued the farming traditions. Tufts developed the farmstead by adding on to the barn and constructing many of the farm sheds and outbuildings that still exist today. Childless, Tufts and his wife sold their property to fellow Coupeville farmer, Edwin Sherman in 1956. Sherman and his family built a successful Hubbard squash business. And although raising squash has always been a popular industry for Central Whidbey Island farmers, Sherman's son now runs the only remaining squash farm on the island. Although the exact date of construction for the barn is unknown, its heavy timber mortise and tenon pegged construction dates it as one of the oldest remaining barns in the area. It is also a good example of changes in farming practice and their effects on architecture. This farm complex as a whole illustrates the cluster plan layout seen on farms across Central Whidbey Island.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1158
Survey number: HABS WA-254