MJE HISTORIC | RED BARN
TOTAL SIZE
2,100 SF
LOCATION
MONTEZUMA, KS
DELIVERY
OWNER
DESIGN-BUILD
PRIVATE SECTOR
The MJE Historic Red Barn is a rare surviving example of early Mennonite construction in Southwest Kansas. Located on the Jantz family property in Montezuma, the structure has stood for more than a century and is believed to be one of the earliest buildings tied to the Mennonite settlement of the 1860s. When MJE Excavating entrusted Building Solutions with its restoration and transformation into an event venue, the goal was clear: preserve the soul of the barn while giving it a second life that would serve future generations.
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Before restoration could begin, the building itself had to be saved. Unruh House Moving Inc. took on the unthinkable task of lifting and transporting the entire historic barn while keeping the structure intact. Prior to the move, Mies Electric carefully disconnected and relocated the facility’s main electrical service, which was mounted directly to the barn’s exterior wall. This was one of the first critical steps required to make the relocation possible.
Once the barn was successfully moved, it had to be immediately re-braced and stabilized to withstand Southwest Kansas winds. Protecting a century-old timber structure in an exposed prairie environment was a high-risk phase of the project, requiring careful coordination and constant monitoring until permanent structural upgrades could be completed.
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With the building secured, restoration work began. ServiceMaster soda-blasted the entire interior, removing decades of buildup while preserving the integrity of the historic wood. This process revealed the barn’s original craftsmanship and allowed the team to assess, stabilize, and reinforce the structure without compromising its authenticity.
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To bring the barn up to modern performance standards while maintaining its historic character, structural insulated panels (SIPs) were installed. These panels provide increased structural stability, improved thermal performance, and insulation that allows the space to be used year-round, all while preserving the visual honesty of the original structure.
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The owners were committed to honoring the barn’s agricultural history. A historic hay-bale pulley system was discovered and preserved, becoming a visible feature rather than something hidden or removed. These elements reinforce the story of the building and its original purpose.
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The interior layout was intentionally simple to respect the volume and openness of the original space. Two restrooms and a compact serving kitchen were added to support events without disrupting the spatial integrity of the barn. One of the primary architectural focal points is a set of custom, hand-crafted 8-foot-tall by 10-foot-wide oak double-siding pocket doors. Built specifically for this project, the doors reflect the same craftsmanship and material honesty as the original barn and serve as a defining visual anchor inside the space.
Today, the MJE Historic Red Barn is a working event venue that honors its past while supporting its future. It stands as a testament to what is possible when engineering, craftsmanship, and respect for history come together — exactly the kind of project that defines how we build.
