Reconstruction of Dos Vientos Barn

* Re “Barn Reconstruction May Not Be Possible,” Jan. 6.

I was saddened to read that the city of Thousand Oaks will probably not reconstruct the historic Dos Vientos barn as part of the city’s planned Broome Ranch equestrian center.

The barn, which was once owned by Snap-On Tools founder Malcolm Clark as part of the Clark family’s citrus and horse-breeding operations at Dos Vientos Ranch, was built in the 1930s and declared a Ventura County historic landmark in 1986. Operating Engineers Pension Trust, the owner of Dos Vientos Ranch area where the barn was located, has been a strong supporter of cultural heritage.

In late 1996, Operating Engineers presented the city with a historic resource protection plan for the preservation of the barn. In May 1997, at a cost of more than $60,000, Operating Engineers carefully disassembled the barn and relocated the pieces for safekeeping. It appears unfortunate that the largest existing barn in Ventura County will, in all likelihood, not be preserved as part of the cultural heritage of the Conejo Valley.

RICHARD HOSTIN

Project Manager

Dos Vientos Ranch

Thousand Oaks