The Brosius Barn
by Jerry Westbrook
Tucked among the rolling hills between Urban and Red Cross stands a majestic stone Pennsylvania German Bank Barn. Like many pieces of antiquity, its exact age is unknown, but its history can be traced to 1842. Whatever its age, it's in better shape than many newer structures. After nearly 20 years of running Brosius Market in Dalmatia, Jim and Audrey Brosius purchased the barn from John and Verna Brown Ferster in 1983. Since that day, and with help from their four children, Chris, Patrick, Beth and Cathy, plus other family and friends, they have dedicated themselves into extensively remodeling the farm house.
Fortunately, the barn, constructed of massive quarry stone and handhewn beams, hasn't needed that much attention. It sports a newer metal roof, newer electrical wiring and, before winter sets in, Jim hopes to have a new sliding door on the front. According to Francine Ferster wife of Donald Ferster - a grandson of the previous owner, the barn is a classic. In fact, when Mrs. Ferster, an agriculture teacher in the Line Mountain School District, took a class at Penn State University - Pennsylvania German Culture History - she remembers: " this barn was a textbook example of everything the professor explained about German barns.
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