Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Thom.
Hi Susan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Harrigans’ Barn is really a story that began with my parents, Jack and Madaline Harrigan.
In 1971, my dad took on the job of tearing down the old Emerson Grade School in Girard. Rather than seeing the building as something that was simply going to be demolished and hauled away, he saw an opportunity to save what he could. Our family salvaged the lumber and bricks from the school, cleaning the old mortar from the bricks by hand, and used those materials to build the barn that stands on the property today. It was very much a family effort.
My parents were both very involved in the community. My dad was a hard worker and someone who believed in making good use of what you had, and my mom was always involved with people—whether it was through Scouts, 4-H, church, youth activities, or volunteering. The barn became part of our family life, but neither of them could have known what it would eventually become.
Over the years, the barn remained in the family. Eventually, our family began finding ways to bring new life to the property. We have always enjoyed antiques, vintage things, repurposed items, and what some people might simply call “good junk.” That naturally led to our Spring and Fall Markets and general events that became Harrigans’ Barn.
Today, my brother and his wife, and my son and I own and operate the property together. What makes it especially meaningful to me is that we are continuing something my parents started more than 50 years ago. The barn isn’t just a building to us. It is something my dad built with his own hands, using pieces of a building that was part of our community’s history, and it carries so many memories of our family.
Today, Harrigans’ Barn is a business and a place where we get to bring people together, but at its heart, it is still a family project. We are fortunate to be able to care for something my parents created, local tradespeople and artisans have embraced, and that we get to share with our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road, but I think that is part of what makes Harrigan’s Barn special. When you are caring for a property that is more than 50 years old and has so much family history tied to it, there is always something that needs attention.
We have put a tremendous amount of work into the property over the years. We’ve cleared bush, cut back trees and overgrowth, painted the barn, repaired and restored the mortar, and worked on the roof with local Amish craftsmen. A lot of that work happens behind the scenes and isn’t necessarily something our visitors see when they come for a show, but it is what allows us to keep the barn going.
Another challenge has been growing the shows while keeping the character that makes Harrigan’s Barn what it is. We’ve worked hard to build a strong vendor community, and today we can have more than 50 vendors at a show, with people traveling from across the four-state area—some of them driving several hours—to bring their products, antiques, handmade items, and treasures to our customers.
That growth has been incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with a lot of work: coordinating vendors, maintaining the property, promoting the shows, and making sure everyone has a good experience. It really is a family effort.
There have certainly been moments when we’ve wondered what we were getting ourselves into, especially when we’re standing in the middle of another project that needs to be done. But then we see the barn full of people, vendors who have become friends, and families coming together to shop and visit, and it reminds us why we keep doing it.
For us, the challenges are part of preserving the barn. My dad built it from pieces of an old Girard school, giving those materials another life. In our own way, we’re doing the same thing—putting in the work to make sure the barn continues to have a life and a purpose for a new generation.
We’ve been impressed with Harrigans’ Barn, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Harrigan’s Barn is a family-owned business rooted in history, community, and the love of finding something special in things that have a story to tell.
We’re best known for our vendor markets, bringing together 50+ vendors from across the four-state area. They offer antiques, vintage finds, handmade goods, repurposed and salvaged items, home décor, collectibles, and those one-of-a-kind treasures you may not have known you were looking for. Some vendors travel several hours to be part of our shows, which speaks to the community we’ve built.
What sets us apart is the barn itself. Built in 1971 by my parents, Jack and Madaline Harrigan, using materials salvaged from the old Emerson Grade School in Girard, the building is a piece of our local history. We’ve worked hard to preserve it while giving it a new purpose.
But Harrigan’s Barn is about more than what’s for sale. It’s about the experience—the vendors who have become friends, the customers who return show after show, and the sense of community that fills the barn.
We’re most proud that we’ve been able to take something my parents built more than 50 years ago and carry it forward as a place where people come together, discover something unique, and make memories. That family history, combined with our vendors and community, is what makes Harrigan’s Barn special.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Harrigans’ Barn truly is a family affair, and there is no way we could do what we do without the people who have stepped up alongside us.
My brother John and his wife, Patty; my son Curtis; my daughter Sarah; my sister Marilyn; and my granddaughter Aubrey have all played an important role in bringing each show together and making it come alive. Everyone pitches in wherever they’re needed, and that shared effort is a big part of what makes each event special.
We’re also incredibly grateful for the support of the Girard community. From the police and fire departments to our civic organizations, local businesses, volunteers, vendors, and community members, so many people have helped make Harrigans’ Barn more than just a market. Their support has helped turn each show into a true community event.
And, of course, our vendors and customers deserve enormous credit. They’ve believed in what we’re building, traveled from near and far to participate, and helped create the energy and sense of community that people have come to associate with Harrigans’ Barn.
It really does take a village, and we’re fortunate to have such a wonderful one supporting us.
Pricing:
- Free for the public
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrigansbarn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarrigansBarn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWt_Dhw1wws
