The Hawken Barn was truly a staple of Hawken's identity, as well as an integral part of the Hawken community. The barn was used between 1973 to 1977 (when it burned down) as part of Hawken's Animal Husbandry course. This was a yearlong course which once signed up for under no circumstances could be dropped. Students taking this course would have to feed, provide water and maintain a clean environment for Hawken's 6 black angus cows for the entirety of the year- 7 days a week including vacations. Though a rigorous course, students loved it. It was a perfect example of Hawken's exemplary hands on approach to learning. Tragedy would strike in 1977 though, when on a windy day what was once Ohio's largest dairy barn would catch fire. Students and teachers alike were in awe and could do nothing to stop the ginormous flames consuming the barn, taking with it an important part of Hawken's history and community. Though torn apart, the community came together to put out fires which had spread to Hawken's woods, preventing this catastrophic fire from claiming any more of the Hawken campus which they loved. The Hawken Barn was a historic piece of Hawken's history and belief system, which we must guarantee is not forgotten.