Meet the Team
Meet our amazing team at Bates Barn! Each staff member brings unique skills and a genuine passion for their work, ensuring that your experience with us is truly exceptional. Discover the friendly faces dedicated to making your time at Bates Barn unforgettable!
The History of
Bates Barn
The History of Bates Barn, as told by Marilyn (Bates) Mitton, daughter of the late Royden & Bessie Bates, original owners (condensed version).
Prepared through detailed notes kept in a scribbler.
It was in August, 1935 that the dreams and plans for a new farm house began with dad, age 23 and mom, 25, being married just 3 years. The couple lived with dad’s parents (white (now grey) farm house to the right of Bates Barn) and the new home was to be built “next door”. The design had been gleaned from a Halliday catalogue of house plans circulated in the mail. Mum & Dad moved into their new abode after New Years in 1936. The downstairs was finished but it was some years before the upstairs was completed.
Wages $271.13; Freight $42.90; Lumber $356.49; other building materials $428.88; Windows $90.00. Including other odds and sods, the grand total for goods & services to build the house in 1935 was approximately $1,400.00!
THE BATES BARN ON THE HILL (Original Bates Barn Destroyed by Fire in 2017)
With one large successful building venture under the belt 11 years earlier, it was time to embark on another project
in 1946 with the building of a barn. Grampie Bates’ barn across the field had been used all these years, but was
aging and outgrowing its usefulness.
The Mercer family figured into this project as well, Harry who was the chief carpenter and Uncle Wilfred, the
“assistant”! Wilfred was now in his 70’s and still hooked on his love of drink! Harry drew the blueprints for the
63 foot long by 30 foot wide 2 storey building.
The building started in July and it was December before they were finished. Local known names like Bob
McCutcheon, Rueben Roberts, Art Humphrey, Ray Holland, Albert Earle, Frank Bates (current owner Bob Bates’
father), Gordon King, Sterling Earle, George Morrell and Millard Ganong (son-in-law married to daughter Ruth)
made the payroll list. Dad’s detailed recording cites the total wage costs to be $1059.15.
Jean (Erb) McKnight, who lived further up the road, was working for the Department of Highways at the time. She
helped obtain the use of the Government Road Scraper to assist in preparing the building site. Warren Allaby
hauled the gravel from Charlie Peter’s beach in Kingston.
It was almost impossible to procure cement in those immediate post-war years. Dad went to G.B. Jones, Apohaqui, then a Senator & storekeeper. He was able, through his contacts & position, to scrounge up a whole rail car load. By now, cement was prepared with a mixer rather than by hand as with the house. The light boards you see in the walls and ceiling of the barn are from the cement forms used in the basement. Once the cement was cured the
boards were used in the building of the barn. No material was wasted in 1946!
The barn itself was designed to provide space for 18 cows with room for 12 in the front area downstairs. The 6 spots at the back were never used for cows but rather used for pig pens. Peter & Molly, our 2 resident horses
occupied the stalls, located very near the 2 grain chutes leading from the grain bin upstairs. In back of the horse stalls was a cold water concrete tank for storing milk and cream and the milk separator. The cow stanchions,
manure carrier & tracks were moved over from Grampie’s barn. The track is still visible in the ceiling of the top floor.
The outside of the barn was finished with cedar shingles, the shingling process which took a number of years to complete with the help of staging. The original shingles are still on the barn today but aging is evident. The hip roof bore a reddish-brown aerolock shingle which was later to be replaced by a steel one. Just ask Mum how she felt when Dad was way up their shingling!
There are wonderful memories of playing hide & seek in the hay mow, going out with Dad when he went to hand-milk the cows. Then there are the not so terrific memories of the time brother George stuck his finger in a live socket, promptly to proclaim that he was going to die! And the fear of the scratching hens when one went to gather the freshly laid eggs! Not to mention the “challenge” of washing the separator, especially the disks on the large pin that needed to remain in that order! Lots of fun times.
Perhaps “thanks” says it all to Mum and Dad for their dreams and vision, their hard work that made it all happen and for the caring, loving home they provided for their family in the growing-up years, and the welcoming, hospitable atmosphere they offered to family, friend & stranger alike. All of this was done with a cost in time, energy and financially but never once did I ever sense they gave in any other way but with good intention and gladly. This is a marvellous heritage they have modelled and given to us all. Now, if only those walls could talk......... Fall 1993
UPDATE ON BATES BARN SINCE 1984 (as told by Janice Bates - current owner)
After purchasing the property from Bob’s cousin Royden in 1984, the barn was used for hay & grain storage. Animals had not been in the barn for several years previous. Royden would continue to use the bottom floor to put together puzzles. Treasures were found in the barn to include dishes, books, BRHS Yearbooks, Eaton’s Catalogue & antiques (sleigh, trunks, farming tools).
In 1993 the barn was host to a wedding dance for a neighbour. This began an annual dance and corn boil each August to thank neighbours & patrons of our roadside market. Years later requests were received from family friends who met their significant other at one of our barn dances to use the barn for their wedding and from there, the Bates Barn Event Venue was born seeing numerous couples joined in marriage, anniversary & family reunion gatherings, church corn boils & retirement celebrations.
The trap door used to cover the rickety staircase leading to the basement was replaced with a new set of stairs. Bathrooms & a prep kitchen area were built on the lower level. In 2015 a large outside deck was built and in 2016 an emergency door and bar was built as well as a permanent outdoor Arch installed by Jim Bates (our son) for his wedding. (This arch still stands today and is the only memory from the original barn that was not damaged).
The outside of the barn was finished with cedar shingles, the shingling process which took a number of years tocomplete with the help of staging. The original shingles are still on the barn today but aging is evident. The hiproof bore a reddish-brown aerolock shingle which was later to be replaced by a steel one. Just ask Mum how shefelt when Dad was way up their shingling!
There are wonderful memories of playing hide & seek in the hay mow, going out with Dad when he went to hand-
milk the cows. Then there are the not so terrific memories of the time brother George stuck his finger in a live
socket, promptly to proclaim that he was going to die! And the fear of the scratching hens when one went to gather
the freshly laid eggs! Not to mention the “challenge” of washing the separator, especially the disks on the large pin
that needed to remain in that order! Lots of fun times.
Perhaps “thanks” says it all to Mum and Dad for their dreams and vision, their hard work that made it all happen and
for the caring, loving home they provided for their family in the growing-up years, and the welcoming, hospitable
atmosphere they offered to family, friend & stranger alike. All of this was done with a cost in time, energy and financially but never once did I ever sense they gave in any other way but with good intention and gladly. This is a marvellous heritage they have modelled and given to us all. Now, if only those walls could talk......... Fall 1993. The heritage of the Bates Barn is special to our family and as such, will remain as unique and original as possible. Now over 70 years old, it has proven the craftsmanship and skill used in its creation. The original owners were Royden Coleman Bates born February 7, 1912 & died December 13, 2005 at the age of 93 & Bessie Eleanor (McEwen) Bates born February 2, 1910 and died August 20, 2001 at the age of 91. Thank you to Royden & Bessie for your vision. Who would have known in 1946 that a cow barn would one day be a Community Heritage Marvel & a family treasure worth saving?
February 15th , 2017
In the early morning hours Bates Barn was deliberately set on fire destroying the building and all of its contents. In the winter months the barn was used to store farm machinery and all was lost. To say the loss was devastating to our family is an understatement. The RCMP continues their investigation into the Arson of the original Bates Barn.
The equipment lost needed to be replaced by spring to be able to plant for the season. Not an easy task but we were able to plant. Equipment needs were replaced over time at a much higher cost than when originally purchased. Insurance didn’t come close to covering the loss.
We made the decision to rebuild and began in August 2017 with our first wedding in June 2018. And, as they say,
the rest is history. Bates Barn is one of the most sought after Wedding Venues in Southern NB hosting clients &
guests from across Canada, the USA & several countries. We have expanded to include corporate events, high school Proms (thank you COVID), Farm to Table dinners, family reunions, comedy/music events, artisan markets & celebrations of life to name a few. With its majestic beams and modern rustic feel, beautiful views of the Belleisle Bay and situated next to the Bates Family Apple Orchard, Bates Barn is the perfect location for your wedding or special event. Bates Barn isn’t just a venue—it’s a symbol of perseverance, community strength, and renewal, making new memories every day.
