A fixture in Snoqualmie Valley architecture, the Stewart Barn and milk house north of Duvall has stood in the Valley since 1928. After a life of almost 90 years, the barn has been recognized as a regional landmark by the King County Landmarks Commission.

On Dec. 15, the Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to designate the barn and as a county landmark, recognizing it as a historic building worth preserving. The barn, known for its unique Gothic architecture, sits on the 74-acre Cherry Creek Farm, which is also protected under King County’s Farmland Preservation Program.

At a public hearing regarding the nomination of this building to receive a landmark status, Todd Scott, historic preservation architect for King County, gave a presentation on the history of the building since it’s creation in the early 1900s.

The Stewart Barn and milk house, located three miles northeast of Duvall along SR 203, were built by Adrian Stewart in 1928 and 1930. Stewart operated the farm until it was sold to Herman and Cornelia Zylstra in 1948.

The King County Landmarks Commission chose to designate the barn as a landmark as it met all of the requirements needed. In 2002, the Landmarks Commission adopted the “Dairy Farm Properties of the Snoqualmie River Valley, WA,” a document for the commission that outlined how to evaluate historic dairy farms.

In his presentation Scott listed many of the barn’s characteristics that met the requirements for the commission. The barn is still in its original location, the design elements, materials, and original structure remain intact. The barn is visible in the surrounding area as it is located on the highest point of the property.

Designation as a King County Landmark protects the property from big changes that would elminate or diminsh the historic aspect of the site. The barn and milk house now have a 15-foot buffer where none of the features of significance can be altered and no new construction can take place, although building and landscape maintenance are excluded from those rules.

The owner of the Stewart Barn, Wayne Gullstad, is now eligible to apply for assistance from the King County Landmark Commission and staff. He is also able to apply for restoration project funding from King County and 4Culture.

For more information on King County’s Historic Preservation Program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/services/home-property/historic-preservation.aspx.

The Stewart Barn from inside. Two ventilators allow light into the historic barn. (Courtesy Photo)