The word barn comes from the Old English bere, for barley (or grain in general), and aern, for a storage place—thus, a storehouse for barley. What are types of barns? Certain barn styles have become synonymous with particular parts of the country; in many cases they are considered historic reminders of the area’s agricultural past.
Full Answer
What is a barn?
A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes. In North America, a barn refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.
Can a bank barn be built on a hill?
Often built into the side of a hill, or bank, both the upper and the lower floors area could be accessed from ground level, one area at the top of the hill and the other at the bottom. The second level of a bank barn also could be accessed from a ramp if a hill was not available.
How did the barn owl get its name?
I’ll not only tell you how they got their name… I’ll tell you how all birds got their name! They’re called Barn Owls because they do indeed prefer to nest in barns, under shelters in rafters or abandoned houses, rather than outdoors. In fact, Church Owl is one name they’ve had in certain regions.
Why is it called a basement barn?
These structures were sometimes referred to as "basement barns" because of their exposed basement story. In the Pennsylvania barn, the upper floor was a hayloft and the lower a stable area. The barn doors were typically on the sidewall. With William Penn's promise of freedom and inexpensive land, many settlers came to Pennsylvania.
Why are barns called barns?
The word barn comes from the Old English bere, for barley (or grain in general), and aern, for a storage place—thus, a storehouse for barley.
Why are barns left to fall down?
More than a few barely still qualify as freestanding structures. However, unlike houses, churches and commercial buildings, which might be renovated multiple times, a barn is commonly left to the inevitable process of entropy — until a fire, snowstorm or stiff gust of wind reduces it to ashes or a pile of lumber.
Why are barns built the way they are?
The farmer's barn had to be built wisely because invariably it housed his greatest assets. This agricultural building was more important than his own house. Without a way to protect farm animals or store crops, early settlers had few ways to survive.
What is called barn?
1a : a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment. b : an unusually large and usually bare building a great barn of a hotel— W. A. White. 2 : a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)
Why are barns painted red?
Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, and it was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color. When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.
Why do farmers not tear down barns?
Farmers are not evil people for tearing down old barns. They are thinking of the safety of their families, their livestock, and machinery when they tear down the unreliable structures. They are increasing the value of their farm, preserving the history and creating an environment for new memories to happen.
Why do barns have spaces between the boards?
Thick, wide boards with spaces between sheathed the earliest barns, the spaces providing light and ventilation inside the barn. After about 1840 farmers began to sheath their barns with board-and-batten and overlapped double boards, also adding some windows.
What are old barns called?
One of the most common barns in the American landscape, prairie barns (also called Western barns, one of which is pictured above), were the barn of choice for farmers in the West and Southwest because large livestock herds required great storage space for hay and grain.
Why are old barns so tall?
Why are barns so tall? Rainwater would ultimately leak through if it was allowed to accumulate on the roof. As a result, these barns required a very high pitched roof to prevent rainwater from sitting and soaking through. These roofs were also needed in order to provide shelter for livestock during inclement weather.
What is the top of a barn called?
cupolaA cupola is a tower or dome projecting out of the roof of a structure, and there's no doubt that they add an interesting architectural flourish to any building.
Was you born in a barn?
Rur. an expression chiding someone who has left a door open or who is ill-mannered or messy.
Do cows live in barns?
Cows don't like extreme heat in the summer or the wind during the winter. We keep them in barns to ensure they have the right temperature, so the wind stays off them, and the sun isn't shining on their backs.
How do you pull down a barn?
How to Demolish a BarnPrepare for the Job. With such an advanced project as this one, it's important to go in with a strategy. ... Strip the Interior of the Barn. It's best to work from the inside out when you're tearing down a barn. ... Dismantle the Exterior. ... Tear the Whole Thing Down. ... Clean Up.
Are old barns worth money?
So how much are old barns worth? If you currently have an antique barn with siding and timbers in good condition and want to sell the planks, you can get around $. 25-$. 75/board foot, depending on species and quality.
Can you tear down a barn in Michigan?
It is a policy of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network to condone salvage and sale of barn wood ONLY if the barn cannot be saved as a barn. It is acceptable to dismantle a traditional barn for parts ONLY if it is a structure that cannot be repaired or saved.
What is an old bank barn?
0:0812:24Exploring An Old Abandoned Bank Barn | Aquachigger - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHow it's built but the style is a it's what's called a bank barn. And that's where they would buildMoreHow it's built but the style is a it's what's called a bank barn. And that's where they would build the barn into a bank or hillside.
What is a pole barn called?
The terminology “pole barn” still lasts, but is more accurately called “post frame construction”. For a long time there was some hesitancy from builders and architects to adapt to this new style of building.
Why did farmers use pole barns?
The term “Pole Barn” goes back to the Great Depression in the 1930’s. American Farmers began to utilize old utility poles to help construct cost effective barns for their agricultural needs. After the stock market crash of 1929 and during the Dust Bowl of the early 1930’s – Farmer’s needed to adapt their existing practices to take advantage of the most abundant and cheapest resources. Farmer’s buried these poles into the ground, attached a metal roof and added steel sheeting for the sidewalls. Out of necessity, the “pole barn” was born.
Where does the word "barn" come from?
While the word “barn” may derive from Old English for “barley house,” in America corn is king.
What type of barn was used in the early American colonies?
2. English A-Frame Gabled Barn. Another early American barn style, the European-style English barns were minimalistic and practical. Early colonists didn’t have tons of resources for quickly building a barn and most of the work they did was done independently. So these were a very popular type of barn structure.
What is a double crib barn?
The more popular style double-crib barn in which two corn cribs are built side by side with an alley between to pull in a wagon or trailer full of corn. 7. Peaked Prairie Barn.
What is a monitor barn?
Monitor barns have a unique raised roof above the central aisle. This feature helps air circulate through the barn and is a popular feature for livestock barns. The raised center roof not only allows ventilation and light to enter, it can also function as a loft for storing feed.
How big was an English barn?
So these were a very popular type of barn structure. English Barns were usually 30-feet by 40-feet in size. Their economic size and no-nonsense rectangularity topped with an A-frame roof was a much easier feat for the basic farmer to complete.
Why are barns important in dairy farming?
This type of barn became popular as dairy farming increased. It provided much more space for herds and additional storage for milk. Plus, building part of the barn underground meant that cooler areas of storage were accessible. An ideal situation for keeping milk longer.
How does a barn benefit farmers?
The benefit is that farmers can access the upper level where they store grain or hay with a wagon via their earthen ramp. While below, the storage section of the barn is a quasi-basement where the livestock shelter in a cozy, protected area.
What is a bank barn?
Bank Barn. Simply a barn built into a hillside or bank that makes use of the difference in elevation on the front and back of the barn. The uphill side can access the second floor. The downhill side accesses the ground floor.
Where did the barn frame come from?
A form of barn frame that originated with English settlers to America. They are distinguished by their queen posts and purlin plates with wagon doors on the long sides and not the gable ends. They were built in New England and after the American Revolution, New England settlers heading westward took this form of barn building with them into New York and the Ohio Valley.
What are barns made of?
Barns are made up of bents and bays. The bay is the space between two bents. A four bent barn forms three bays.
What is an upright post?
The upright posts that support each end of an anchor beam with the high purlin plates capping them off and tying them to the other arcade posts.
How many bays does a barn have?
This is the unit of barn timbers running from front to back. If a barn has four bents, it has three bays. Barns were easily enlarged by adding more bents on either end to lengthen the barn.
How big were the barns before the Industrial Revolution?
Prior to the Revolution, they were approximately 24’ by 36’ and their size progressively grew with improvements in harvesting brought on by the Industrial Revolution. The sizes jumped to 30’ x 40’, then to 35’ x 50’ and up to 40’ by 60’, which was about the limit a beam could span. They began as four bent barns and could easily be expanded by adding more bents and bays to the ends.
What is an anchor beam?
The most unique feature of anchor beams is the through tenons on each end. The extending tenon ends were cut into a variety of shapes including rounded, ...
Why are barn owls called barn owls?
I’ll not only tell you how they got their name… I’ll tell you how all birds got their name! They’re called Barn Owls because they do indeed prefer to nest in barns, under shelters in rafters or abandoned houses, rather than outdoors. In fact, Church Owl is one name they’ve had in certain regions. They are a light color which makes them easy to spot from above, so living under a shelter helps protect them and their nests. They are one of the most beautiful of owls and smallish to medium in size. They are quite unique in a few remarkable ways. Unlike any other common owl, they have babies severa
What is a barn owl called?
Well, Barn Owl is simply a common name, they are also called moonface owl in some areas. It was most likely called by its latin name (Tyto alba). The latin classification is the standard name of all the know creatures of the world, when speaking about an animal, its latin name clears up any confusion.
How long do barn owls live?
While other owls commonly live 12–15 years or more in the wild (and quite often up to 30–35 years in captivity!!) the beautiful heart-shaped faced Barn Owl lives only 2–3 years.
Why do barn owls screech?
The screech is mostly made by the male, to establish that this is his territory, to warn off other Barn Owls, or to advertise his presence. The female makes this call much less frequently.
How many different names for birds are there?
Although the taxonomy of birds was often up for debate among scientists, the Common names of birds was even more of a mess. Many birds had 15 or 20 different Common names, depending on where you were. The Barn Owl, for instance… Monkey-faced Owl, Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Golden Owl, Night Owl, White Owl and even Death Owl were all names for this bird.
Do barn owls behave more primitively?
I can only give you anecdotal information from handling them. North American Barn Owls, the only ones I have personally handled, behave more “primitively” than other owls I have handled.
Why are barns important to the Dutch?
Barns were an important part of most Pennsylvania Dutch families’ lives, so it was natural for people to decorate them. Some of the more worldly farmers continued their custom of adding colorful six-pointed stars to their barns. The Pennsylvania Dutch enjoyed incorporating folk art throughout their homes and farms.
Why are hex signs used in barns?
Hex signs might also have been used to protect barns from lightning and to protect the animal occupants within. Some Pennsylvania Dutch farmers may have believed in the power of hex signs to ward off witches and their frightening influence.
Where did the word "hex" come from?
These wooden signs became known as hex signs. The name “hex” may have originated from the German word for six, which is “sechs.”. The hex sign name could have also come from the German word “hexafoo,” which means “witch’s foot.”. The combination of folk magic and symbolism has a strong influence on hex signs.
What is an A-frame roof?
A-Frame Roof - [ see image] (also known as Gable Roof) refers to a triangular shaped roof (shape of an A) that may be built with a different roof pitch. Most of barns & houses these days are built using A-Frame roof style construction as a more affordable choice.
What is the attic of a house?
Attic - [ see image] Usually refers to the space inside the roof.
What is bearing wall?
Bearing Wall - A wall that supports a load, like a floor or roof, generally running at right angles to the joists above.
What is a brace in construction?
Brace - A piece of structural material, either temporary or permanent, serving to strengthen another member, or to hold the member in place. Bridging - Structural blocking used to give an extra stability to floor joists on wide spans. Note: In barn construction, either wooden blocks or metal X braces are used.
What is a projecting beam?
A projecting beam or bracket stabilized by the weight of the wall from which it extends.
What material is used to build siding with a board and batten look?
Note: In some applications (or as a maintenance free alternative) a new composite or vinyl material is used to build siding with a board & batten look.
What is a baluster?
Baluster - Any of the small posts that support the upper rail of a railing as on a staircase or balcony.
What is a banked barn?
A bank barn or banked barn is a style of barn noted for its accessibility, at ground level, on two separate levels. Often built into the side of a hill, or bank, both the upper and the lower floors area could be accessed from ground level, one area at the top of the hill and the other at the bottom. The second level of a bank barn also could be ...
What is a Pennsylvania barn?
With William Penn's promise of freedom and inexpensive land, many settlers came to Pennsylvania. Among these settlers were the Germans, who began to build bank barns on their land. Many other settlers followed this practice and it was soon the most common type of barn Pennsylvania during the colonial era. The Pennsylvania Barn is a specific type of bank barn with a forebay, a projecting floor on one or more sides of the barn. All forebay barns are bank barns but not all bank barns are forebay barns. Robert F. Ensminger in his book The Pennsylvania barn: its origin, evolution, and distribution in North America identifies three basic types of Pennsylvania barn: the Sweitzer, standard, and extended.
What type of barn was used in the colonial era?
Many other settlers followed this practice and it was soon the most common type of barn Pennsylvania during the colonial era. The Pennsylvania Barn is a specific type of bank barn with a forebay, a projecting floor on one or more sides of the barn. All forebay barns are bank barns but not all bank barns are forebay barns.
What is the upper side of a bank barn?
The upper side has one double doorway for access to the threshing floor. Usually stone built, British bank barns are rectangular buildings. They usually have a central threshing area with hay or corn (cereal) storage bays on either side on the upper floor; and byres, stables, cartshed or other rooms below.
What is a high drive bank barn?
The design of some bank barns called a "high-drive bank barn" allowed for wagons to enter directly into the hay loft, making unloading the hay easier. Sometimes the high-drive was accessed by an earthen or wood ramp and sometimes the ramp was covered like a bridge to make it more durable.
When did the New England barn become popular?
The New England barn developed in the early 19th century, became the most popular barn type after 1850 replacing the smaller, side-entry English barn and are almost always square rule framing. Similar barns are also found in upstate New York and westward and Canada.
Where did bank barns originate?
The origins of bank barns in the UK are obscure. The bank barn had made its first appearance in Cumbria by the 1660s on the farms of wealthy farmers: here farmers bought drove cattle from Scotland and fattened them over winter before selling them in spring. The bank barn at Townend Farm, Troutbeck in former Cumberland was built for the prominent Browne family in 1666. The great majority of bank barns were built in Cumbria between 1750 and 1860, and the last were built just before the First World War.
