Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 1 ½ - story gable-entry barn with a 1 – story low-pitch gable-roof addition on its east eave-side and a 21st century modern addition on its west eave-side. The west-side of the building complex faces Miller Road while the ridge line of the main barn runs north-south parallel to the road. The main façade of the main barn is the south gable-side facing the main residence with the main entrance at the center through an over-head garage door. The gable attic above is separated by a distinct girt siding divide line which is intercepted at the center by a hinged hay door. The hay door is placed in between a pair of two-pane vents, one each one either side. The south eave-side of the gable-roof addition on the east eave-side of the main barn can be seen flush with the main south gable-façade towards the east while the south-side of the modern addition on the west eave-side is flush with the main south gable-façade towards the west. The south-side of the 21st century modern addition has two entrances: one towards the east through an over-head garage door and the other towards the west through a pair of hinged wagon doors. The western portion of the modern addition has a 1 –story high roof level while that of the eastern portion rises higher to form a clerestory roof that includes the gable-roof of the main barn.

The wooden frame of the main barn is supported on concrete foundation and has asphalt shingle roofing. The barn has cement plastered masonry and vinyl siding. The lower portion of the 21st century addition on the west eave-side of the main barn is built of concrete block masonry with the upper wooden frame is covered by wood shingles.

Historical significance:

The New England barn or gable front barn was the successor to the English barn and relies on a gable entry rather than an entry under the eaves. The gable front offers many practical advantages. Roofs drain off the side, rather than flooding the dooryard. With the main drive floor running parallel to the ridge, the size of the barn could be increased to accommodate larger herds by adding additional bays to the rear gable end. Although it was seen by many as an improvement over the earlier side-entry English Barn, the New England barn did not replace its predecessor but rather coexisted with it, as both types continued to be built.

Field Notes

Non-traditional, angular structure. May not qualify as a barn.

Use (Historic)

• agriculture

Use (Present)

• unknown

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Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Garage
• Shed

Environment features

• Open Land
• Residential
• Rural
• Woodland

Relationship to surroundings

The 6.7 acres property, Map Number - 41 68 018, is situated towards the east of Miller Road in a predominantly residential area of rural character. It is flanked by residential plots towards its north, south and the west, across Miller Road. Parcels of open land can be seen towards the east while dense woodland surrounds the property towards the north and north-east. 

The barn and its addition are located in the north-western corner of the property abutting to Miller Road. The building complex consists of the main barn at the center with a gable-roof addition on its east eave-side and a 21st century modern addition on its west eave-side. The circa 1925 main residence can be seen towards the south of the barn complex. Parcels of open land with active agriculture can be seen towards the east of the property.

Building Typology

• New England
• Unknown

Materials

• Concrete Block
• Vinyl Siding
• Wood Shingle

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Structural System

• Load-bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle

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Roof type

• Gable
• Shed

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Approximate Dimensions

n/a

Date Compiled

11/19/2010

Compiled By

T. Levine and M. Patnaik, reviewed by CT Trust

Sources

Field notes and photographs provided by: John E. Harmon

Assessors’ records retrieved on November 19th, 2010 from website http://www.equalitycama.com/ 

GIS information retrieved on November 19th, 2010 from website http://www.crcog.org/gissearch/

Photograph/Information retrieved on November 19th, 2010 from website http://www.google.com

Information retrieved on November 19th, 2010 from website http://www.zillow.com

Sexton, James, PhD; Survey Narrative of the Connecticut Barn, Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, Hamden, CT, 2005, http://www.connecticutbarns.org/history

Visser, Thomas D.,Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings, University Press of New England, 1997.