The Barn theatre is officially named the Johnson/Kemp Barn Theatre, for its architect Jeffrey Johnson, and in memory of Randy Kemp, a Performing Arts Counselor. It is used for theatrical productions for school and camp and was erected in place of the original barn that was used by the Franklin Family before our founders purchased the property.
When High Meadows opened in 1973, the old barn was estimated to be about 80-90 years old and in disrepair. In 1997, it was decided to tear it down and have an old-fashioned "barn raising" to build the new one.
The entire community participated in the tear down and the raising. Former Roswell Mayor Jere Wood contributed all the timber and much of the siding - sawing the wood himself. Jeffrey Johnson (also the architect for the Middle Years building, Crawford Cabin, and Tractor Shed) designed the new structure with input from a German architect, and worked tirelessly alongside many others once the main frame was assembled. Note the beautiful hand carved wood bolts and tongue and groove work in addition to the craftsmanship of the doors and shutters.