Barn Guestbook Archive: January - March 2000

Robert Spell email me! - Monday, January 24, 2000 02:44:16 PM
I have recently purchased a barn in Dalton City IL that is a parrie style,with a large hay loft. IT is appox.35 feet tall and has asphalt shingles on the roof. It has been patched several time but needs some more especally on the ends. I need some names of roofers who could do one of the following 1 repair the roof and ends or 2. remove the arches and replace them with a lower roof. Robert Spell 217-864-3017

Kathy Lou email me! - Thursday, January 27, 2000 05:20:49 PM
why are barns painted red?

Terry Anderson email me! - Sunday, January 30, 2000 01:22:07 AM
Grandma said, and she was a thrifty German, that barns were painted red because red paint cost less. They went white when no one wanted to be the poorest farmer in the county, Keeping up with the Jones??? This coming from central Nebraska when a lot of barns were built 1900 and on.

Janine email me! - Monday, February 07, 2000 04:32:48 PM
I am seeking that age old question.....why are barns painted red?

Dave email me! - Saturday, February 12, 2000 12:01:24 PM
I have an rectangular 48x52' barn that is in need of tons of repairs from the complete foundation to some sills and beams. I really do not want to loose a piece of history. I rent out my land and have not use for it for livestock. I am looking ar repairing it but at a high cost. I would be doing the work myself to save on cost. My question is.... can anyone tell me what kind of things they you have or have seen barns used for other than livestock. I am about 20 mins. from a city with a population of about 150,000. I am on a paved road. There is a old water powered mill and winery just with in 1.5 miles away that attract alot of visitors. Go ahead and fire the ideas at me. Funds are tight! Something I can start small and work my way up or a type of rental or... what ever. Thanks Dave

Dave email me! - Saturday, February 12, 2000 12:13:45 PM
Oh by the way in reagards to barns being painted red. Red paint is one of the more expensive colours to make as the red pigment is a mined substance so therefore barns are not painted red because it is cheaper. Quite frankley I think it was because red with white trim against a green pasture just looks nice. =)

Dave email me! - Saturday, February 12, 2000 03:00:22 PM
The traditional red and ochre paints found on many barns became widely available in Vermont by about 1850. Made with locally produced iron oxide earth pigments and linseed oil, the paints were relatively inexpensive, and it became fashionable on farms throughout the region to have a red barn contrasting with the white farmhouse. At the end of the century, shingled barns stained dark green or brown became fashionable on gentlemen's farms. In the twentieth century, red, white, and yellow have been the colors of choice of most farmers, often with the trim in a different color. This was taken from http://www.uvm.edu/~vhnet/hpres/publ/barnb/bbtip7.html Just another opion added to the red barn theory. =)

Squire Steffey email me! - Saturday, February 19, 2000 07:52:56 PM
Great day! Finally!! I'm a teacher in Williamsburg and have been researching and photographing tens of hundreds of old barns in my native State of Virgina, especially in our Shenandoah Valley. Now, there are more of us out in the hinderlands in America. When I go out on sunny weekends, with Nikon, my role switches to Indiana Jones. Barns...barns... Letters are better. P. O. Box 3012, Williamsburg, Va 23l87...Squire Steffey. Oh, add covered bridges, farm outbuildings, old diners, lunch counters and those neat early depots!

Linda Heflin email me! - Saturday, February 19, 2000 11:42:56 PM
We live in western Iowa and are going to restore our barn which is 40'x36'x 30' high. It has a Queen Anne Cross gabled/truncated pyramidal roof that is flat on the top. We are trying to find information on this style of archetcture. There are only 2 remaining like this around. Also ways of getting assistance for restoration (grants etc.). Plan to apply for National Historic Register when we are done. It was built in 1901. Thanks

Charlene email me! - Sunday, February 20, 2000 10:38:33 PM
I am looking for information on restoring barn board. I bought a 135 yr old house and when remodelling found barn board under layers of plaster. Now I want to restore it as it is in excellent condition. Can anyone tell me how to go about this project? Anxiously awaiting an answer

Denise email me! - Monday, February 21, 2000 11:51:43 PM
HI! I know this is a long shot, but, do you think there are grants out there for renovating barns or for women that want to renovate and start a busines? We just purchased the farm I grew up on. It has 2 wonderful barns on it and we are located 1/2 mile off of a very popular bike trail. I want to renovate one of the barns and turn it into an INN. We live outside of a very small town and I feel we have a little gold mine, but, I have NO idea how to begin! HELP! I discovered your jounal tonight and love it! Keep up the good work!

Dave email me! - Tuesday, February 22, 2000 08:49:39 PM
Hey all you "barn people" tell your friends about this site and lets watch it grow. Tell us where you are from. I am from Ontario Canada. =)

Bob email me! - Wednesday, February 23, 2000 10:07:04 AM
I have been looking at some barn books, and saw a barn in Lebanon, N.Y. that is supposed to be ( I think ) 300' long and four stories high, with a cupola on top as large as a small house. It is called North Family Barn. I was wondering if anyone has seen it, or can see it. Wondering if it is open to public, etc.There are several barns in the area i would like to see. I live in N.E. Ohio.

Michelle email me! - Wednesday, February 23, 2000 05:07:19 PM
Im a 29 year old from Eau Cliare Mondovi area If my great great grandpa didn't invent the round barn who did? I have many pics of the barns my grandpa built and in my search to find anything on what my grandpa has done through the web i have only found one thing on him and that was something submitted to me by the local paper on my grandpa inventing the round barn What is the story? Thank you

bruce email me! - Saturday, February 26, 2000 04:18:03 PM
hello...we're a couple of guys in south-central nh looking to erect a barn-home on some land we own. we'd much prefer to reclaim a local post and beam barn, probably about 30'x40' in size, but we're looking for info on general prices for such a structure-- dismantling it (if necessary), foundation/slab, and re-erecting the structure. can anyone help with rough estimates on cost? thanks

Bill Warren email me! - Saturday, February 26, 2000 10:01:12 PM
My first entry to this marvelous barn site was March 3, 1999. Since that time, I come for a visit from time to time. The things I notice most often are how many people have questions about barns. I want to recommend a book (probably out of print) about barns that I have used over the years to keep myself informed. The book is "An Age of Barns" by Eric Sloane. It was published by Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1967. Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 66-26946. After an introduction, Eric Sloane introduces the reader to 'the framer's implements' with drawings showing how timbers were hand hewn as well as the tools that were used. Following pages show drawings of Medieval English and German barns,American barns in the 1600s, a section on dating old barns, American log barns, the Appalac hian barns, big log barns, Pensylvania stone barns, and a section showing a range of different barns as they pertained to geographic areas, all with construction details. There is a section of barn plans, barn roofs, and exrended bays. There is a section on the New England connecting barns. There is a section talking to the heart of the barn. Also raising a barn. Then, onto round barns, the Shaker round barn, and the big barns, and so forth. If you, like me, own a barn, or, if you just like barns and want to know more about them, find yourself a copy of this marvellous, educational book on barns. Cheers, Bill

Bill Plack email me! - Monday, February 28, 2000 06:56:08 PM
Do any of you barn photographers know of any DR.PIERCE BARNS? Dr. Pierce had a very popular line of patent medicines around the turn of the century and he advertised them on barns, much like Mail Pouch Tobacco. I have only seen one, in Bedford County, PA around 15 years ago but it is gone now. I don't know if there are any originals still around but I heard that someone in Ohio had one of his ads painted on their barn about 10 years ago just for fun. Does anyone know of any barns, original or recent, in the PA/OH/MD/WV/NY area? I live in southwest Pennsylvania but would be willing to drive quite a ways to see one. Many thanks.

Elmer Napier email me! - Tuesday, February 29, 2000 07:34:00 AM
I have a picture of a barn near McConnisville, Ohio with a Firestone Tire advertisement. I have look at thousand`s of barns and this is the only one with this ad. I contacted the public relations department of Firestone and they have not answered. Question have any of you see this ad. if so where? If anyone would like a scan of the barn let me know and I will send it. Thank you. Elmer Napier Okeechobee, Florida.

Lynn & Guy email me! - Friday, March 03, 2000 08:14:16 AM
My husband and I have just gotten permisson to use some lumber from an old barn that will soon be demolished and burned. We want to use as much of the siding and beams as we can in a new barn we have just built. Should we be concerned about treating the old lumber for insects? Can you recommend any resources to make our recovery of the lumber an easier, more systematic task? Any hints would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give us. Lynn and Guy Wilson Manitou Beach, MI

Pat Manion email me! - Sunday, March 05, 2000 08:45:49 PM
Looking for a barn in the L.A. California area for a wedding reception.....

Lance email me! - Monday, March 06, 2000 05:43:50 PM
I am considering purchasing a barn and making it into my home. I am interested in gereral information such as financing, repairs, heating/cooling, or any hints or pointers anyone can offer... Please respond!

chris beaucher email me! - Wednesday, March 08, 2000 10:07:16 AM
Ho ,my name is christopher and im wondering where to get some FREE barn plans (post ans Beam)Isn't there some acient blue print publicy available.thanks

Jim Miller email me! - Wednesday, March 15, 2000 05:07:01 PM
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and for the last year I have been collecting pictures of Mail Pouch Tobacco barns. Whenever I am driving in the countryside on a State Route I carry a camera with me, and if I spot a barn with the Mail Pouch Tobacco ad on the side I stop and take a picture. If you know the location of any of these barns within the tristate area (OH,IN, & Ky) please let me know. The only information I need is the name of the road or state route the barn is on, and the town it is in or near. In addition, if there is anyone else out there with this same hobby I would like to hear from you. Thanks!

Terry Pealer email me! - Thursday, March 16, 2000 02:01:16 PM
I have a client who wants me to make her a carriage house out of old barn siding & beams . Where can I get plans for a carriage house type building? Also looking for a barn/barns to recycle.

Mike Yates email me! - Thursday, March 16, 2000 08:28:19 PM
I stumbled across your site today and enjoyed it. Mike's Barn has a history http://www.geocities.com/sunsetrip/pit/7584

Ed Preston email me! - Saturday, March 18, 2000 07:56:56 PM
We've recently renovated our 1915 vintage horse barn with new roof structural repair, siding repair and new doors. This barn is 40x70 and includes a huge hay loft as the structure is 34 ft. tall. Of course the new paint is barn red. To celebrate the occasion a dance was held last summer in the loft with 250 friends attending. Washington State

Paul email me! - Friday, March 24, 2000 04:09:26 PM
I was reading the article "why are barns red" I have an old barn with the old milking stansions still in place. The barn is white with a green roof. Maybe you are on the right track with dairy barns being different from others.

Julie Hazelton email me! - Saturday, March 25, 2000 11:54:28 AM
We have a 1903's (I believe) barn built in two section (one with foundation, the other without!)-- we can't afford to save it, and I hate to see it fall without knowing if someone would like it! What resource can I use to find out if it IS worth anything to anyone? Talk about a novice..... P.S. -- it's red on one side, weathered grey on the wind side!

Julie Hazelton email me! - Saturday, March 25, 2000 11:55:45 AM
Oops - forgot to say... Duluth, MN

Allan Stirling email me! - Saturday, March 25, 2000 03:56:21 PM
We are ready to start a large barn project, and we would appreciate any seasoned advice. We have been given a large, century old barn and several out-buildings. We are going to dismantle them, move them across the road to our property, and reconstruct them. We need procedural advice from those who have successfully completed such a project. The buildings will be demolished otherwise, so we are going forward with this project. We also live in a barn, and only part of it is used as our living area. T0 those who also live in such a structure, this is great living, isn't it?! Thanks for any help with the new (old) barn.

Squire Steffey email me! - Sunday, March 26, 2000 08:46:06 PM
MAIL POUCH BARNS! Help! Does anyone know of any books on Mail Pouch Barns, with locations? ...articles, with source and date? Thanks!

Bill Plack email me! - Tuesday, March 28, 2000 09:51:33 PM
WHY ARE BARNS PAINTED RED? In one of Roger Welsch's books he addresses this age old question. He says he went around the area and asked local barn owners why. They all had the same answer, "Because it's the cheapest color paint at the local paint store". So he went to the local paint store and asked why red paint was so cheap and the answer was, "Because we sell so much of it".

Jack Stehle email me! - Friday, March 31, 2000 09:23:29 PM
Hi....My newly renovated barn has a 1912 silo which is in need of repairs...some of the tiles are missing but the structure is sound. I am looking for someone that restores silos....I live in Michigan and the tiles were originally made in Lansing, Michigan. I would appreciate any feedback regarding silo restoration!

 

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