BUTLER, Ohio — Jonathan and his wife didn’t just buy a property when they settled in Butler — they inherited a piece of Richland County history.
Tucked behind their 1800s farmhouse stood a weathered barn, likely older than the village itself. For generations, it had withstood Ohio’s snowfalls, summer heat and high winds. But by the time the Howards moved in, the structure had begun to show its age.
“The property’s from 1834 — the house, the barn, everything,” said Jonathan Howard. “You could see where the barn had been patched and added to over time. One side had a serious lean — almost a foot and a half out at the base. The roof was leaking, and we were honestly worried about how much longer it could stand.”
Like many rural property owners, the Howards saw the barn as more than a storage space. It was part of the land’s story, a physical link to the past. Letting it fall into disrepair wasn’t an option. But restoring a nearly two-century-old building is no small feat.
A few years earlier, the Howards had hired Bo Lacey Construction to install a new roof on the barn — a preventive measure to halt the water damage. When the time came to take on a full restoration, they knew who to call.
“There were cheaper options out there, but the work Bo Lacey had done before was just better,” Howard said. “We appreciated the quality, so we brought them back out.”
That decision kicked off a collaborative process between the homeowners and Bo Lacey’s team. Houston Mills, a project manager with the company, was brought on board to walk the site and help shape the plan.
“It always starts with a conversation,” Mills said. “We don’t assume — we ask what the customer wants, what their goals are. And then we go from there.”
In this case, what started as a siding project quickly evolved into something more complex.
“Once I got on-site and took a closer look, it was obvious this barn needed structural help,” Mills said. “We didn’t want to just slap on new siding and call it a day. That barn had survived nearly 200 years. Our job was to make sure it could stand another hundred.”
The first step was addressing the barn’s stability. The left side had shifted significantly, creating a noticeable lean. Bo Lacey crews poured a new concrete footer along that section to anchor the structure. Inside, they installed additional framing and support beams, reinforcing the interior from the ground up.
The upgrades weren’t just cosmetic or structural. They were practical, too. The Howards use the barn to house tools, supplies, and occasionally, livestock. Mills noticed the lack of gutters and suggested installing a rainwater collection system with barrels, allowing the family to irrigate trees and plants using reclaimed water.
“They really helped us think about function,” Howard said. “Now we use the rain barrels all the time for the yard and trees. It was a smart addition.”
Equally important was honoring the barn’s original character. While the siding needed to be replaced, much of the interior wood remained untouched. Old beams and rough-hewn planks still frame the space, a nod to the barn’s heritage.
“We wanted to keep as much of the original material as possible,” Howard said. “That old wood on the inside, those beams — those are the soul of the barn.”
The project moved efficiently once it began. The concrete work was completed in a matter of days. Framing and structural reinforcement followed shortly after. Finally, the team installed new doors, siding and gutters, wrapping the project within a few weeks.
Mills credits that pace to Bo Lacey’s streamlined production process. Once the customer signs off, he said, the company’s internal team coordinates materials, crews and schedules to minimize disruption and keep things moving.
“Everyone’s on the same page before we ever break ground,” he said. “That helps us deliver results faster and more reliably.”
For the Howards, the experience confirmed their trust in the Bo Lacey team. From the clear communication to the attention to detail, the project delivered on both aesthetics and peace of mind.
“Once they started, it all came together so fast,” Howard said. “And everything’s solid now. It looks good, it feels good — it’s exactly what we hoped for.”
Even months after the job was complete, the Howards still have a Bo Lacey Construction sign posted proudly in their yard — something that didn’t go unnoticed by Mills.
“That kind of loyalty really means something,” he said. “It shows they’re proud of the work, and we’re proud to have earned that trust.”
Preserving a historic structure takes more than craftsmanship — it takes care, respect and a commitment to doing the job right. Thanks to Bo Lacey Construction, one of Butler’s oldest barns now stands ready for the future.
And for the Howards, it’s more than just a building.
“It’s a piece of history,” Howard said. “And now, it’s going to be around for a while.”
Bo Lacey Construction is located at 1472 US-42, Mansfield, and can be reached via phone at: 800- 266-9916. For a free estimate or to browse services, visit: https://bolaceyconstruction.com/
