CARNDUFF — What’s red and white and red all over? This isn’t a joke. It actually happened.
In 1965, when Carnduff was organizing their 60th homecoming birthday, the powers-that-be wanted to do something a little different. They picked out a site on Broadway, their main street, and decided to build a red barn that everyone could help construct.
Everyone attending that weekend was invited to pound a nail into the structure. About 1,000 people did, including the premier of Alberta of the day, Ernest Manning.
Manning was born in the Carnduff area, so this was a real homecoming for him.
As well as hammering, people signed autographs on the inside walls. Over the years, more and more have been added. Eventually there were thousands of signatures in this up-and-coming landmark.
When the small barn was finished, it was moved to the local park where it has been used ever since for storage and a concession booth for community events. It also available, free of charge, for families and organizations who want to use the park facilities. Despite its size, it has become part of Carnduff’s landscape.
Over time, it started to show its age. A facelift was necessary. In 1990, a new tin roof was installed. Occasionally, a paint touch-up was applied. Care was taken not to disturb the history on the inside walls.
In 2015, for Carnduff’s 100th homecoming, funds were set aside to upgrade the barn and the band shell that shared the park. Those funds sat in trust until 2021, when the renovations began.
First the barn had to be jacked up to give it a new concrete foundation. That took up a lot of the funds. In 2022, an anonymous donation came in that enabled the work to be finished. New walls were put on top of the old outside walls. Again, it was important to maintain the original condition of the inside walls.
The final touch was applied. Upon the adding of the new outside walls, a coat of primer was applied. Carnduff’s Red Barn was white for a short time. But then, out came the red paint to bring the barn back to its name. The white barn that was once red was now red again.
So, there’s the answer to the riddle. Carnduff’s Red Barn was red and white and now it’s red for many years to come.
