RJB Family Barn

RJB Family Barn The Ray Janssen Belfield (RJB) Family Barn was built by Dell and Allene Ray from 1938 to 1940.

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05/31/2026

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Take a look back to 1961 in the old farmhouse backyard. That’s first-generation builder Allene Ray holding her grandson ...
05/27/2026

Take a look back to 1961 in the old farmhouse backyard. That’s first-generation builder Allene Ray holding her grandson third-generation Allen Janssen!

Just over twenty years before this moment, in 1938, Allene and Dell Ray purchased the Fortman farm. They picked up their tools and began building the RJB Barn, finishing their labor of love in 1940.

You can also spot a piece of lost local history in the background; the Lessel Barn, which sadly fell during the 1990s.

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05/24/2026

There’s nothing like seeing words come to life! 📽️✨

We’ve been hard at work capturing the legacy of the RJB Barn, and we were lucky enough to record exactly what the Rays described:

"On the street side (W Hendrickson Rd) I had a dozen rings, where I could tie up the horses, or I could shoe them, or saddle them, and it was in the shade of the building (RJB Barn), so it was pretty handy." — Dell Ray

Our latest timelapse captures those words in action, showing the barn's shade working its way from west to east throughout the day—just as the Rays described! 🐎🛠️

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RJB Family BarnConstruction completed 1940Restoration started 2020Sequim WA ✨🐎🐄
05/20/2026

RJB Family Barn
Construction completed 1940
Restoration started 2020
Sequim WA

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📸 REVEALING A PIECE OF HISTORY: 1951 📸This is the oldest known image of the RJB Family Barn! Taken back in 1951, this ae...
05/17/2026

📸 REVEALING A PIECE OF HISTORY: 1951 📸

This is the oldest known image of the RJB Family Barn! Taken back in 1951, this aerial shot captures a moment in time that tells so many stories.

If you look closely, you can see:

A Barn in its Prime: The horse and cattle wooden fencing off the back and the horse carriage sitting out front shows just how active this farm was.

The Land: You can clearly see the irrigation ditches dug into the field and the open space across the street.

Recycled History: In the upper left, there is a pile of lumber with a cool backstory; it was repurposed from the old Sequim theater and was later used to build the Ray's beach house out at Discovery Bay!

Childhood Memories: Check out that old fire engine truck! The Janssen kids still remember the thrill of riding around the farm on it.

It’s incredible to see how much has changed, and yet how much of the original spirit remains. We are working hard to restore this piece of history so it can stand for another 80+ years.

Does anyone else have old photos of the barn or the area? We’d love to see them in the comments!

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05/13/2026

Brad with is at it again! 🛠️

We finally found the perfect home for a true piece of history. This stained glass window has been a silent observer of life on this land since the early 1900s.

Originally part of the old farmhouse adjacent to the barn, it likely belonged to the Fortman family before being purchased by Dell and Allene Ray (first generation) back in 1938. 🏡✨

For over a century, this glass filtered the Sequim sunlight for all the families who called that farmhouse home. Recently, when a board fell from the south side of the barn, we took it as a "nod" from our ancestors; a clear sign of exactly where this treasure belonged. 🎨

Moving this window isn’t just a repair; it’s a way to preserve the "old soul" of the farmhouse. By placing it here, we’re ensuring the legacy of those who came before us continues to shine. It feels so right to bring a piece of the farmhouse back to life right here in the barn! ❤️

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🐴 A Ride Through History! 🐴Take a look back at the 1944 Sequim Irrigation Festival! This special photo captures two gene...
05/09/2026

🐴 A Ride Through History! 🐴

Take a look back at the 1944 Sequim Irrigation Festival! This special photo captures two generations of the Ray family, whose horses all called the RJB Barn home.

Featured here are: Dell Ray (1st generation) riding his impressive stallion.

Beulah (Ray) King, Dolores (Ray) Janssen, and Jimmy Ray (2nd generation) on their pack horses—the very same ones they used to guide tours through the beautiful Olympic Mountains! 🏔️

This moment was likely captured on the Sequim School green, where you can still spot an old barn and silo in the background.

Did you know? By 1944, the Sequim Irrigation Festival had already been a community staple for nearly 50 years! 🌾
Established in 1896, it is the longest-running continuous festival in Washington State, celebrating the pioneers who built the ditches that turned our "arid prairie" into the lush farmland we love today.

Just a year after this photo was taken, in 1945, Sequim’s landmark grain elevator completed construction to handle the valley's booming agricultural production. We love seeing these pieces of our family and community heritage!

🏁 Throwback to the Sequim Demolition Derby days! 🏎️💥This mid-80s photo shows Jeff Belfield’s demo derby car; a classic s...
05/06/2026

🏁 Throwback to the Sequim Demolition Derby days! 🏎️💥

This mid-80s photo shows Jeff Belfield’s demo derby car; a classic sight from the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s high-octane days. Though it’s Washington’s longest-running festival, locals fondly remember the derby as a main event before the Logging Show replaced it in 1988 due to costs and liability.

Spot the "Rainbow Roof" in the background? Jeff (3rd gen) created it by patching the leaking west side with leftover metal from his business, Evergreen Framers, while the east side still sported original Carlsborg cedar shakes. 🛠️🌈

That’s a young Jeffery (Jay) Belfield Jr (4th gen) and his dog, Buddy, on the old demo car. Jay spent hours "tuning it up" with a hammer and pretending to be in the demolition derby just like his dad! They even celebrated this day with some pumpkin smashing on the roof. 🎃🔨

Fun Historical Fact: The demolition derby was once the grand finale of the festival’s events. When it was phased out, locals Kevin Kennedy and Dave Bekkevar stepped in to create the Sequim Logging Show to keep that community spirit alive.

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05/03/2026

No rest for the weary at the RJB Barn! 🛠️ We’re moving fast to get summer-ready, leveling the field with fresh dirt to keep things smooth. 🚜
As we work the land, we’re reminded of our ancestors and the families before us here in Sequim. They were the ones cutting the trees, digging out stumps, and clearing those famous 'Sequim Potatoes' (rocks!) just to carve out a living. We’re proud to keep that legacy of hard work alive! 🌲🪨✨

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Big news! We opened the mailbox to find our very first mail-in donation and it happens to be our largest one yet! 💌Thank...
04/29/2026

Big news! We opened the mailbox to find our very first mail-in donation and it happens to be our largest one yet! 💌

Thank you Janelle and Mark!

We are officially at $1,564 toward our $30,000 goal. Every single dollar brings us closer to getting that upper east roof replaced and protecting this piece of history. A huge thank you to everyone supporting the restoration!

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Address

1153 W Hendrickson Road
Sequim, WA
98382

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