Pontiac, Michigan (September 6, 2005) The Office of Arts, Culture & Film presents a lecture by Kathy Thomas, Assistant Naturalist for Oakland County Parks and Recreation, on September 15, 2005, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Oakland County Lecture Hall.

When thinking of fall, most will agree that leaves, colors, and apple cider comes to mind. It is the perfect season for cider mills, walks in the woods, and for appreciating Americas barn history. Timber frame barns are fast becoming endangered buildings so preservation is a vital need. Kathy Thomas will address this issue, along with the exciting relocation efforts for the 1884 Ellis Barn.  In order to save the barn from being demolished for a commercial development, the 14,000 square-foot barn was dismantled and moved, board by board from its former location on Dixie Highway in Springfield Township to the Oakland County Park in Davisburg. The effort to save the 121-year-old barn, one of the largest in Michigan, has been underway for more than three years and is an important step in raising public awareness of Michigans rich historical past.

The presentation will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2005, from Noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Oakland County Lecture Hall, Building 49 West on the County campus at 1200 North Telegraph Road, in Pontiac. For further information contact Kristie Everett Zamora, Director of Arts, Culture & Film at (248) 858-0415 or at zamorak@oakgov.com, and please visit www.artsoakland.com.