Every old barn has a story. And the old Sue’s Country Barn on East Highway 120 in Manteca is no exception.
For years, the history of the property had something tangible on display that connected the current owners to the Miller family that homesteaded the original 160 acres and built the barn.
Sue Giulian, who, with husband Joseph, purchased the property from the Millers in the 1980s, said that when they took ownership of the ranch, along with it came an old farm equipment. “It looked ancient” and, at that time, was no longer functional, she recalled. Still, they kept it right next to the barn which attracted quite a number of curious visitors who stopped by to purchase some fresh produce that they were selling at the rustic country store.
“We kept it because of its history,” she said.
The Millers invented the first almond hulling machine in the area, the Giulians came to find out. That original invention was the one that sat on the side of the barn when she operated Sue’s Country Barn, a favorite stop-over of motorists going to, and coming down from, Yosemite National Park and other attractions in the foothills and the Sierra.
It was also the same machine that the Millers used in harvesting their almonds. Prior to that, the Millers, like many other almond farmers in the area, harvested and processed almonds by hand.
Several years after the Giulians purchased the Miller property, they donated the machine to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Sue Giulian thinks the original Miller farm totaled 160 acres “because it was homesteaded.” Before they purchased the 40 acres from the Millers, the property was an 80-acre almond orchard. The Millers sold 40 acres to the neighbors, then sold the last remaining 40 acres to the Giulians in the 1980s.
While it was largely an almond orchard, Sue Giulian remembered that there used to be olive trees lining the front of the property along Highway 120.
The old almond huller may be gone but various kinds of antiques continue to lure many people to the old Sue’s Country Barn. Years after Sue Giulian closed her country store, she re-opened the barn’s doors for at least twice a year – the first in spring after Easter, and later in the year around Halloween and Thanksgiving - offering all kinds of antiques and collectibles. The spring sale kicked off Thursday night with what has become the traditional champagne reception for Giulians’ faithful customers. While visitors helped themselves to wine and hors d’oeuvres, they previewed this spring’s treasures and finds inside the barn.
The barn will be open daily through May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further details, call (209) 607-6013. The historic barn is located at 12607 E. Highway 120 between Austin Road and Jack Tone Road.
For years, the history of the property had something tangible on display that connected the current owners to the Miller family that homesteaded the original 160 acres and built the barn.
Sue Giulian, who, with husband Joseph, purchased the property from the Millers in the 1980s, said that when they took ownership of the ranch, along with it came an old farm equipment. “It looked ancient” and, at that time, was no longer functional, she recalled. Still, they kept it right next to the barn which attracted quite a number of curious visitors who stopped by to purchase some fresh produce that they were selling at the rustic country store.
“We kept it because of its history,” she said.
The Millers invented the first almond hulling machine in the area, the Giulians came to find out. That original invention was the one that sat on the side of the barn when she operated Sue’s Country Barn, a favorite stop-over of motorists going to, and coming down from, Yosemite National Park and other attractions in the foothills and the Sierra.
It was also the same machine that the Millers used in harvesting their almonds. Prior to that, the Millers, like many other almond farmers in the area, harvested and processed almonds by hand.
Several years after the Giulians purchased the Miller property, they donated the machine to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Sue Giulian thinks the original Miller farm totaled 160 acres “because it was homesteaded.” Before they purchased the 40 acres from the Millers, the property was an 80-acre almond orchard. The Millers sold 40 acres to the neighbors, then sold the last remaining 40 acres to the Giulians in the 1980s.
While it was largely an almond orchard, Sue Giulian remembered that there used to be olive trees lining the front of the property along Highway 120.
The old almond huller may be gone but various kinds of antiques continue to lure many people to the old Sue’s Country Barn. Years after Sue Giulian closed her country store, she re-opened the barn’s doors for at least twice a year – the first in spring after Easter, and later in the year around Halloween and Thanksgiving - offering all kinds of antiques and collectibles. The spring sale kicked off Thursday night with what has become the traditional champagne reception for Giulians’ faithful customers. While visitors helped themselves to wine and hors d’oeuvres, they previewed this spring’s treasures and finds inside the barn.
The barn will be open daily through May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further details, call (209) 607-6013. The historic barn is located at 12607 E. Highway 120 between Austin Road and Jack Tone Road.
