Barn owners Steve and Beth Marini of New Oxford presented a check for $1,500 to HGAC President Bernie Mazer to purchase a painted wood Barn Star, shown in the accompanying photo. The funds will go toward HGAC’s Barn Preservation and Grant Program, which provides assistance to Adams County barn owners.
HGAC acquired this beautiful Barn Star as a donation from renowned barn star artist, Patrick Donmoyer, who is the Director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University. Donmoyer is the author of several publications including his book, “Hex Signs: Myth and Meaning in Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Stars” with a forward by Don Yoder.
This sixteen-pointed star combines the traditional geometry of Northern Berks County barn star painting along with a central rosette and floral petal border common to traditions of the Lehigh Valley. Barn Star art has become a symbol of the cultural presence of the Pennsylvania Dutch in the landscape of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The star is four feet in diameter, made of painted wood and signed and dated by the artist. It was originally on display during HGAC’s 2025 Historic Barns Tour.
Photo caption: From Left to Right: Steve Boggs, 2026 Barn Tour Chair; Patrick Donmoyer, Barn Star creator and donor; Barn Star buyers Beth and Steve Marini of Adams County; Bernie Mazer, HGAC President; Curt Musselman, Executive Director of the HGAC Barn Preservation Project; Bob McIlhenny, Project Director of Development.