Our Mission
“We wanted to create a venue where people can come together to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments in a space they can truly be proud of,” said owner Aissa Norris. “We worked closely with local brides, businesses, and members of the community to create a space that meets their needs while remaining flexible enough to bring each unique vision to life.”
1912 Barn History
Welcome to the 1912 Barn, a historic homestead with roots dating back to 1851. Established by George Washington Humphries and his family from Kentucky, this land was purchased for a mere ten cents per acre—an incredible bargain by today's standards! Initially deemed less valuable due to its proximity to the Sangamon River, this swampy terrain soon proved its worth as George and Martha raised their six children, farmed the land, and nurtured animals. Join us as we delve deeper into the rich local history surrounding this remarkable property.
About the Farm & Barn
As the Humphries family and their farm thrived, it became clear that more help was necessary. That's when Grandy Bernard, a young lad from Ohio, came into the picture. Although he was originally brought on to tend to the horses, he quickly fell for George's beautiful daughter, Etta. Before long, they were married, and after Mr. Humphries fell ill and passed away in 1876, Grandy and Etta assumed the duty of looking after her mother and running the farm, coinciding with the arrival of new inventions that were revolutionizing agriculture as the century began.
The Great Depression brought challenges to many farms, including those of Grandy and Etta, who faced significant hardships that resulted in the loss of all but 40 acres of their. The once-bustling corn crib behind the barn stood empty, with most animals sold off to cover expenses. Despite these setbacks, their strong roots in the land them farming until the property was sold to the Carl Dunn family in the early 1950s. The Dunns expanded the farm, raising three sons who continued the family legacy, while Carl and his wife dedicated their to nurturing the land until Carl's passing. In 2004, the homestead found new owners in Aissa and Hank Norris, who stepped into this rich agricultural history.