Every few weeks we get together with Sandy’s brother and sister and their spouses for lunch. These are wonderful family gatherings; memories flow freely, and every now and then I hear nuggets about Sandy’s early years.
This time we were just South of the town where Sandy grew up, at the home of her sister and her husband. On the adjacent farm sits an old barn, a dying form from our past – Bessie was a bit on edge, but had to check me out:
The following is the view from the front – my brother-in-law still uses this structure to store some farm implements:
What will happen to all the wood when this old barn comes down? How long before it comes down? Maybe a few storms down the road will do it?
I love old barns. Maybe when I have a little time I will run around the countryside in the Midwest to document this dying breed.
Do YOU think something should be done to rescue these? If so, what?
— Al Navas
About Al Navas
There are several things that come into play here. I remember how saddened I was when my Dad tore down the old barn on our farm. However, repairs would have been financially impossible and that is what many farmers have experienced. To erect a simple metal or pole barn is significantly less expensive. The type of farming that is being done today also dictates a change in the physical structure. Many of the barns are being bought up for use in flooring and other decorating projects. The old barns that were built using chestnut are in high demand. So much did depend upon the lumber available in a specific area, the building’s proposed use, and the method of building. Don’t forget, Al, in case you didn’t hear – the barn that is still standing on the old Ridge farm, where we visited yesterday, is built with mortise and tenons. Not a whole lot of barns can brag that they were that well constructed.
We MUST plan another visit – you just reminded me of the mortise and tenon joinery. Those must be huge timbers, and similar to what the Amish build.
Al,
Unfortunitely timberframe barns are fading from the landscape at a rapid pace. We have a local company that dismantles barns and recycles the lumber. Mostlly resawing the timbers into flooring. The owner confided he passes on many barns in NE Ohio because the beams are American Beech, not a desirable wood in the flooring industry. Obviously, the ideal would be to see these structures preserved as working buildings, a hollow second best would be that the timber could be salvaged before nature reclaims it.
George
George,
One of my pet projects is to somehow document these, as part of the history that is disappearing every day. And to also reclaim at least a part of them, before they return to the earth, as you so well put it.
Can you share with me why American Beech is not desirable in the flooring industry? I was not aware of that. I will likely call a company in Kansas City that also recycles timbers into flooring, to try to get a reading.
Al, driving around rural Ontario last year on vacation I saw a ton of old barns falling down, but also saw almost as many in good condition and still standing. There were some properties with one old falling down barn close to a new one as well.
Shaun,
So many around here, too – sad, and undocumented deaths is what I tell Sandy.