Building Name (Common)
Knowlton Farm Part 2 of 2Building Name (Historic)
Mason-Knowlton FarmAddress
185 Old Turnpike RoadMansfield
Typology
Historic Significance
Architectural description:
This is a 1 ½-story eave-entry barn. The main façade faces northeast and the ridge-line of the barn is perpendicular to that of Old Turnpike Road, which at this point runs approximately southwest to northeast.
The main entry is an open bay toward the east corner of the barn. Nearly centered on the northeast eave-façade of the barn are two six-pane windows, with what appears to have been a third further east that is now filled-in. Toward the north corner of the northeast eave-façade of the barn is a side-hinged door. Further north from the second door on the northeast eave-façade of the barn is a side-hinged pass-through door.
The southeast gable-end of the barn is blank. The south slope of the southeast gable-end of the barn extends further to the south along a back extension giving a saltbox line to the southeast gable-end of the barn.
The grade declines sharply on the southwest eave-side of the barn. There is a small extension projecting south at the south corner of the southwest eave-side of the barn.
The grade of the northwest gable-end of the barn inclines sharply. The northwest gable-end of the barn is blank.
The barn is covered in unpainted vertical siding. The roof is covered in asphalt shingles.
Historical significance:
Distinguished by the long shed or gable roof and the row of large openings along the eave side, the typical wagon shed was often built as a separate structure or as a wing connected to the farmhouse or the barn. These open-bay structures protect farm vehicles and equipment from the weather and provide shelter for doing small repairs and maintenance.
Historical background:
The site dates back to the 1820’s when it was owned by Joseph Tinney, who is presumed to have built the current house on the site. The property was acquired in 1864 by Charles Mason. Mason operated the site as a working farm and also owned and operated the nearby Gurley-Mason Mill which produced lumber. The property was inherited by his son Charles Mason, who was by trade a craftsman and no-longer continued active operation of the site as a working farm. The farm was inherited by his daughter Eva Belle Mason and her husband Henry Knowlton. Mrs. Mason-Knowlton operated an antiques business from 1912 to 1982 in which time she used the barns on the site for storage of her collection. Mrs. Mason-Knowlton died at the age of 101 in 1983. Since that time the history of the site and the main house have been recorded by the local Mansfield Historical Society.
Field Notes
FORM: English
ROOF: Gable roof, runs E-W, parallel to the road; asphalt shingles
SIDING: vertical boards painted a gray/green color
FRAME: Post-and-beam with modern additions/alterations
DOORS: Sliders (main entry and on newer lower-level side entry), plus one "human scale" door on lower level
FOUNDATION: field stone, in some areas (notably the south wall of the east bay) small rubble stones
DIMENSIONS: overall 48'1" x 24'2" Old part 31'0" x 24'2"; added bay 17'1" x 24'2"
DATE: 1825-1829 plus later modifications
SITE HISTORY:The Greek Revival house was built in the later 1820s (stylistically bracketed in that date range and also the property sold in 1829 with a house and barn thereon standing). Like other properties on this street it was farm operation that specialized in dairy production.
By the early 20th C (before 1940), it was no longer a farming operation, but the house and outbuildings together with stone fences evoke the feel of an agricultural operation.
BARN CHANGES: (1) At some point a fourth bay was added to the west end of the barn. Because of sloping grade, this is bi-level with cattle stanchions below (this area not investigated as a mother fox and babies are in residence). Inside, a small set of steps (2 steps) leads up to the floor of this section. This section uses circular sawn timbers.
(2) On the exterior, a stone retaining wall was built at the west end of the original barn between the old and the new sections, suggesting the extreme drop-off may have been partially dug.
(3) In the middle or drive bay of the original barn, a modern stair case has been inserted against the west framing timbers. The tie beam on the west side of this bay has three empty mortises "in front" of the stair case (as one approaches the entry doors).
(4) Timbers in the west bay have been whitewashed, suggesting dairy use
(5) There currently are a lot of small windows on the north and south sides of the barn, possibly relating to adaptive use (not a common feature in barns I've looked at in central Massachusetts)/
(6) There is one large paving stone abutting the foundation at the east end, suggesting the presence of a door (no scars on current siding, not examined from the interior)
ALSO on the site, at right angles to the barn, is a low or single-story structure--possibly a shop, with a modern garage addition on the house end, creating a protected barn yard.
Attached photos show: 1. S facade from barn yard 2. SE corner from the road 3. E bi-level end (lower entry) 4. Barn & shop/garage arrangement 5. site overview (context)