Old Barn Post January 06

Ohio Barn Conference VII
April 7 to 9,
Girard, Ohio
Friends of Ohio Barns’ 2006 barn conference will take place April
7, 8, and 9 at the Holiday Inn Metroplex in Girard, Ohio. It will feature
demonstrations, speakers, displays of antique tools and other items, the
Barn Detectives, and much more. Friday’s barn tour will give participants
a chance to see some of Trumbull County’s most unique structures. Added
events at this year’s conference will include a silent auction and an
evening of live bluegrass music.
If you would like to learn more about Trumbull County, you can
visit the Farm Bureau’s website at www.ourohio.org. By launching the
map of Ohio you can choose Trumbull County. While you are there, check
out your own county to discover more about where you live.
Check the article in this newsletter for more information, and
watch for the next Old Barn Post for details on the conference schedule
and registration.
Friends of Ohio Barns
P.O. Box 203
Burbank, Ohio 44214
The Old
Barn Post
A publication of Friends of Ohio Barns • January 2006 • Vol. V, Issue 1
Home to more than livestock, the barn is a zoo
A barn is a menagerie, as most farmers
know. Aside from the intended species such
as dairy cows, work horses, sheep, goats,
pigs, or the occasional stray chicken, one
might see any number of other critters frequenting the vaulting spaces enclosed by a
big barn. A cat or three, maybe nine, might
be seen in and about the barn door, the loft,
or snooping around the milk parlor looking
for spills. Dogs, raccoons, opossums and
ground hogs all make their
ways in and out during
some part of a
day.
Other furry critters such as rats and mice
leave their telltale signs with droppings, little footprints, and diminished supplies of
grain. Close on the trail of these little
opportunists might be a black snake, a
weasel, or no doubt, another cat. Sparrows
and starlings are in and out doors, windows,
and knot holes while flocks of pigeons circle
the cupola and roost on the ridgetop and
weather vane.
How many little spiders have woven
webs amongst the numerous tie beams
and corner braces and cast those
nets in the breeze like tiny fishermen in hopes of harvesting
a meal of the myriad other
tiny crawling and flitting
denizens of the barn?
The barn is also a
haven and refuge for
two of our feathered neighbors,
the barn swallow and the disappearing barn
owl. Both help out around the farm, one
keeping insect populations at bay while the
other feeds on rodents that threaten the
farmer’s grain.
A deeply forked tail and rusty colored
underside mark the swallow nearly as clearly
as its unequaled aerial acrobatics as it hunts
food from dawn till dusk over fields and
ponds. Any barn that has sufficient openings
has one or several nests glued to the underside of floor beams in the basement or to tie
beams in the mow. They can also be found
under eaves or on porches. The nests are an
open cup of mud and grass lined with fine
grass stems, hair, and feathers.
The ghostly barn owl is seldom seen but
is a welcome presence nonetheless. A young
barn owl will eat the equivalent of a dozen
mice per night if such prey is available.
Adult barn owls kill and consume the
equivalent of one large rat or gopher per
night. What farmer would choose to be
without such help around the barn?
The loss of a barn is a community crisis
in more ways than we might consider.
— Tom O’Grady
Please recycle this newsletter. Share it with a friend.
Printed on recycled paper, of course.
Friends of Ohio Barns • P.O. Box 203 • Burbank, Ohio • 44214 • Fax (330) 624-0501 • web site: http://ohiobarns.osu.edu • e-mail: friendsohiobarns@aol.com
Accepting nominations for first
Ohio Barn of the Year award
Friends of Ohio Barns board members
are pleased to announce the first Ohio
Barn of the Year award.
Founded in 2001 following the second
Ohio Barn Conference, Friends of Ohio
Barns is dedicated “to support and promote through education the awareness
and understanding of the significance of
Ohio’s historic barns within their agricultural and architectural context, and their
maintenance requirements. To encourage
programs that provide resources for their
stewardship and conservation as a lasting
icon of our cultural heritage.” Our objective with this new awards program is to
encourage awareness and community
pride in historic barns, according to Rudy
Christian, president of Friends of Ohio
Barns.
Awards will be presented at the 7th
Annual Ohio Barn Conference held in
Trumbull County, April 7 to 9.
Nominated barns will be judged in two
categories, continued agricultural use and
adaptive use (non-agricultural). Barn
owners, barn enthusiasts and local historic
organizations are encouraged to nominate
their favorite barn or barns for one of the
two categories. Nominations should
include as much information as available
including: photos, current owner’s name,
location of barn, current use of barn, history of barn including age and builder if
known, and repairs and information on
individuals performing repairs.
News release and photos of both winning nominations will be made available
to the news media with a feature story in
“The Old Barn Post.”
Deadline for nominations is March 24.
Nominations should be sent to: Tim
Mason, Friends of Ohio Barns, 6500
Horns Hill Road, St. Louisville, Ohio,
43071 or e-mail information with
attached photos to ptmason@core.com.
Friends of Ohio Barns
Board of Directors
Maybe you know of a barn in this condition. It
starts with a little neglect and too often ends in collapse or demolition, as with this barn in Fulton
County.
But it doesn’t have to end that way. Get your
neighbors and fellow barn owners/enthusiasts to
join Friends of Ohio Barns. Help to ensure that this
important part of Ohio’s legacy is also an important
part of Ohio’s future. Check the FOB website at
http://ohiobarns.osu.edu or e-mail friendsohiobarns@aol.com for information about membership
or barn repair specialists in your area.
President
Rudy Christian
Wayne County
(330) 624-7282
Vice President
Tim Mason
Licking County
(740) 745-2938
Secretary
Nancy Rowland
Ashland County
(419) 368-3803
Treasurer
Laura Saeger
Wayne County
(330) 624-7282
Membership
Dan Troth
Delaware County
(740) 549-1774
Newsletter
Tom O’Grady
Athens County
(740) 593-7552
Board Members
Gary Wechter
Larry Sulzer
Ric Beck
Gary Clower
Bob Rowland
Stark County
Summit County
Franklin County
Trumbull County
Ashland County
(330) 499-8522
(330) 657-2135
(614) 898-9461
(330) 394-2613
(419) 368-3803
There may have been a time when
preservation was about saving an old
building here and there, but those days
are gone. Preservation is in the business
of saving communities and the values they
embody.”
— Richard Moe, President,
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Mark your
calendar
National Barn Alliance Annual Meeting
March 8-9, Kellog Center,
MSU, East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan Barn Preservation Network
Annual Conference
March 10-11, Kellog Center,
MSU, East Lansing, Michigan
www.mibarn.net
Ohio Barn Conference VII
April 7-9
Holiday Inn Metroplex, Girard, Ohio
Please see the article on Page 3 for more information,
and look for further details in the next newsletter.
Silent auction
We are planning a gathering of “Friends”
on Saturday evening, April 8, as part of our
conference. The Red Mountain Boys, a local
bluegrass band, have been asked to play for our
entertainment. Rather than add this expense
to your conference fees, we are hoping you can
contribute an item for our silent auction to
help defray the cost of a band. Your items can
be anything of your choosing: handmade, collectable, store-bought or some interesting
“found” item. Whatever it is, the more we
have, the more it will add to the festivities!
Help wanted!
Reliable, experienced and practicing
contractors, artisans, craftsmen and
consultants — we need you!
Friends of Ohio Barns wants to
expand our resource list of people
throughout the state to help our great
barn stewards.
If you know of anyone in your area
who would qualify with experience as a
timber framer, roofer, stonemason,
barn repair specialist, backhoe operator,
barn lifting and bracing expert, barn
dismantler or mover, or restoration specialist, please contact Friends of Ohio
Barns, and we will add them to our list.
If you would be interested in being
a part of this resource list, let us know.
If you or anyone you know would
just like to volunteer their time with
this organization, please contact
Friends of Ohio Barns at PO Box 203,
Burbank, Ohio 44214 or e-mail friendsohiobarns@aol.com.
Ask the
Barn Detectives
By Larry Sulzer
Q. How often should I inspect my
barns and outbuildings for routine
maintenance?
A. Twice a year would be a reasonable approach to review the structures for periodic maintenance. I
suggest that you take a seasonal
approach to inspect for signs of
damage and deterioration. Winter
conditions seem to cause the most
problems, therefore, a spring and fall
schedule would allow you adequate
time to correct and prepare the
buildings. Remember, preventative
maintenance will extend the life of
the barn and be a small investment
that will potentially save a lot of
money in the long run. Stewardship
of our agricultural structures contributes greatly to the rural cultural
landscape which we all cherish.
Q. What items should I include on
my maintenance checklist?
A. Agricultural buildings present
some unique challenges to short and
long term maintenance.
Each barn and outbuilding must
be reviewed in the context of its use
and site conditions. Therefore, I
mention the following items only as
a baseline for developing an on-site
inspection checklist. Yearly, review
the barn and its associated outbuildings for changes in structural settlement issues. This can best be done
from a viewing angle and distance
that will allow one to observe a sagging ridge, bowing walls and/or misalignment of joists, rafters, and
other framing members. Take a few
photographs and measurements for
record purposes and follow up
observations. Note: Most historic
structures are not true and square
and that is one of the unique characteristics that we all love and enjoy.
The number one concern and
cause of deterioration in building
materials is water penetration. So it
is imperative that any and all roof
leaks be corrected. When looking at
the underside of the barn roof, if
you can see any daylight you have a
potential leak that needs your
immediate attention. Moisture penetration can also be created by gutters and downspouts; damaged
cupolas, dormers, or ventilation louvers; improper flashing; broken window glass; missing or damaged siding; misaligned doors; and, last but
not least, poor site grading. Make
sure that the earth always slopes
away from the building for positive
drainage.
Foundations are another source
of water infiltration. If water is
located, find its source and correct
the problem. Stone foundation walls
normally over time require some
repointing. Use a mortar that has a
composition and appearance compatible with the existing conditions.
Evaluate wood sills for movement
and/or deterioration. Regularly
inspect for wood boring insects and
have the structures periodically
treated.
Develop an exterior finish maintenance schedule so that the work
can be spread out over time for allocation of manpower hours and
budgeting purposes. Pay attention
to historic finishes and special features. Modern materials and products are not always the answer and
usually drastically affect the appearance of historic buildings. So repair
whenever possible instead of replacing. The scale, detailing and texture
of the historic architectural fabric of
barns and outbuildings is being lost
at an alarming rate.
When in doubt, seek professional guidance and utilize the wisdom
and knowledge available from the
Friends of Ohio Barns.
Ohio Barn Conference VII planned for April
Come join us April 7,
8, and 9 in the northeast
corner of Ohio for the
7th Annual Ohio Barn
Conference sponsored
by the Friends of Ohio
Barns.
This year’s barn tour
will
be
conducted
through
Trumbull
County on Friday. One
stop will be at Payne’s
Corners, the site of possibly the oldest barn in
Trumbull County. Dated
roughly at 1805, it is a
scribe rule, hand-hewn
barn still in wonderful
condition. Another barn
on the tour sports a
wooden
silo
and
vestibule. Lunch will be
held at Candywood Golf This Trumbull County barn, part of Friday’s barn tour, sports a wooden silo and vestibule.
Course in yet another
post and beam barn that was spared dismantling and kept for enlightening attendees on the tax issues regarding easements for
social functions. It will prove an interesting tour with beautiful farms with a possible breakout session handling individual
questions on this topic. And of course the Barn Detectives will
barns and scenery along the way.
The site of this year’s conference is the Holiday Inn continue their tradition with a few presentations and demonMetroplex in Girard, Ohio. It has all the amenities for a pro- strations.
Plan on sticking around Saturday night for a great dinner
ductive, entertaining conference. There are plans in the works
for some demonstrations on barn repair. Some of our speakers followed by a presentation and then trade barn stories while lisinclude local historian Dave Cover who is quite knowledgeable tening the bluegrass tunes of The Red Mountain Boys. A silent
about the transition of the family farm from old times to the auction will be held to offset the cost of the entertainment, so
present. He also has an impressive collection of antique hewing, come prepared to bid on interesting items.
The Ohio Barn Conference is always a good way to meet
woodworking and farming tools from which he will bring a few
items and do a show and tell. Attorney Ron Holtman plans on people with the same interests and enthusiasm for barns. It is a
great way to learn about preservation
and other issues affecting our
homesteads.
— Sarah Woodall
Left: Payne’s Corner’s scribe rule
barn, dated 1805. Scribe rule barns
are most readily identified by
“marriage marks” on the layout
faces of mated timbers. Marriage
marks are usually scratched-in
(“scribed”) Roman numerals with
other identifying marks. The scribe
rule was replaced by the square
rule layout system by about 1820.
The mill rule is an adaptation of the
square rule made possible by the
use of accurately sawn timbers.
Both scribe and mill rule barns
have simple mortise and tenon
joints with no housings. In Ohio, all
scribe rule barns were built with
hewn timber and mill rule barns
are built completely of circular
sawn timber.
Firsthand memories of Ashland County barn’s past
highlighted at Friends of Ohio Barns’ October picnic
The Ashland County Barns
and Rural Heritage Society
hosted the Friends of Ohio
Barns annual picnic October 2
with 27 people participating.
The picnic was held in conjunction with the Ashland
County Drive-It-Yourself farm
tour. The Ashland County
Barn Society had their own
stop on the tour at the Doug
and Dee Hefner farm in
Jeromesville.
One of the highlights of the
picnic was having Margaret
Ewing, the former owner of
the barn, at the picnic. This
was the farm that her parents
had owned and was her lifelong home until a few years
ago. Although well into her
80s, she had sharp recollections
of her childhood on the farm
and working in the barn. She
recalled when, at the age of
three, she had seen the barn
moved up a hill several hundred yards to its present location. The move was done by
putting a pole in the ground “Barn Detectives” Tim Mason and Dan Troth point out interesting characteristics of the
up the hill. Using a rope with Ewing barn frame during FOB’s annual picnic in October.
block and tackle, one horse
pulled the barn to the pole. Then the pole was moved further up memories to several hundred visitors. Paul and Mary Ann, her
hill and the horse pulled the barn to the pole again. This was grown children, wanted to make sure we noticed the picture at
repeated until the barn was in the desired location. (The day the head of the casket. The picture was of Mrs. Ewing with her
before the picnic, as part of the farm tour, her cousin, who lived children and grandchildren in the barn, greeting guests on a most
on the neighboring farm, remembered being told the horse used memorable afternoon for their entire family.
to move the barn was named Rex).
Special thanks to Doug and Dee Hefner for the use of their
Mrs. Ewing and her family then spent the remainder of the barn for the Ashland County Barns Society’s display and FOB
afternoon in the barn, greeting farm tour visitors, which num- fall picnic. Rudy Christian and Laura Saeger loaned examples of
bered over 600 in the two-day tour. FOB members Tim Mason, different kinds of jointery and those were used to label actual
Dan Troth, and Paul Knoble fascinated the crowd with their ver- barn joints. Nancy Rowland had her homemade barn shape puzsion of the “barn detectives,” explaining why some of the fram- zles for the children to assemble, and the pounding pegboard was
ing members were hewn and some were sawn and other charac- a hit. The parents even got involved. A couple hundred Ashland
teristics that led to the three “experts” dating the barn from the County barn survey pictures were displayed, and there were barn
1860s to 1870s.
related books on display with ordering information as well as a
Paul, Dan and Tim then traveled to an adjoining farm recent- lists of barn repair artisans available. There were free suckers for
ly purchased by the Hefners to keep it from being divided into the kids, and there was free popcorn for everyone. Pop and water
13 building lots. (It was the farm previously referred to where were available for a donation.
Mrs. Ewing’s cousin lived). The barn was built in 1888, with the
Friends of Ohio Barn displays were set up, FOB newsletters
date on the slate roof. Several other FOB members enjoyed visit- were given out, and over $100 in FOB hats and T-shirts were sold.
ing other stops on the farm tour.
The Hefners decorated their working barn with straw bales,
Unfortunately, two weeks after the picnic, Mrs. Ewing passed gourds, and pumpkins. They also provided the popcorn popper.
away. At her calling hours both here son and daughter repeated- The sheep in the lower part of the barn and the chickens were
ly emphasized to us how much their mother had enjoyed greet- popular. The antique tractors outside the barn also received
ing the FOB members on her farm and spending the remainder much attention.
of the afternoon in her barn, relating her childhood and adult
— Bob and Nancy Rowland