It was a sunny, late-summer day when I met David Abel at his property in Elizabethtown. I’d been anticipating finally seeing the iconic Star Barn that now stood majestically on the grounds of Stone Gables Estate. I expected to learn about the meticulous process that went into dismantling, relocating and reassembling the structure that I had seen so many times as I traveled along Route 283 in Dauphin County. I knew that I was going to be awestruck at the craftsmanship that went into restoring it to its original grandeur. It was
Photo by Hoffer Photography
as I expected, and so much more. What you see on the property is just part of the story. It’s the purpose behind it all that impacted me the most. Mor e Than Just an Icon ic Building The Gothic Revival Star Barn was built in 1877 and was the centerpiece of a complex of smaller buildings on the 164-acre John Motter farm. The louvered fivepointed stars used for ventilation, which
