Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 1-story gable-entry barn with an attached shed-roofed addition.  The barn faces north and the ridge-line is approximately parallel with John Perry Road, which at this point runs approximately north to south.

The main entry is simply an opening spanning the entire width of the north gable-facade of the barn; there are no doors. Above the opening and just below the dropped girt line siding divide is a small shed-roof protruding from the north gable-facade. Above the roof, off center to the east, is a hay door with iron strap hinges. The only opening on the east eave-side is a pass-through door on the north corner.  The grade drops towards the south, revealing a fieldstone foundation, which is visible along the south gable-end of the barn.  Attached to and extending off the south gable-end of the barn is a shed-roof addition.  Found on the west side of the addition is a window opening.  A window opening, now boarded, is found near the north corner of the west eave-side of the barn.  There are no other openings on this side. 

The foundation is un-mortared fieldstone. The barn is clad in unpainted vertical flush-board siding and has an asphalt shingle roof.

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.

Barn footings and foundations were usually built of stone, often harvested from nearby fields or quarried from local outcroppings. The earliest type of field-stone foundations found in Connecticut do not use mortar, as early builders thought it unnecessary.

Field Notes

This barn is believed to be older than the house it is next to. It was on the property when the house was moved to Eastford from Woodstock. In poor condition at present. small barn with shed attached at end downhill.

Use (Historic)

• agriculture

Use (Present)

• unknown

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn

Environment features

• Residential
• Woodland

Relationship to surroundings

This barn is to the southeast of the house with which it is associated.  The house faces west, and the ridge-line is parallel with John Perry Road.  The property sits at the intersection of John Perry Road and Edwin Cooper Road.  To the northeast of the property is the center of Eastford, where Eastford Road, Old Colony Road, County Road and Westford Road all meet.  To the north of the property appears to be a school and an industrial complex.  Further north are some open tracts of land.  Eastford Public Library and some open tracts of land are found to the east of the property.  To the southeast is Bowen Ballfield, and some open tracts of land.  To the south are open tracts of land, Trowbridge Cemetery, and Phoenixville Park Ponds.  To the west are open tracts of land, woodland, and Old Cemetery to the northwest.  Surrounding the property are light residential areas, woodland and open tracts of land.

Building Typology

• New England

Materials

• Flush-board
• Vertical Siding

Structural System

• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle
• Built Up

Roof type

• Gable
• Shed

Approximate Dimensions

n/a

Date Compiled

02/05/2010

Compiled By

Todd Levine, reviewed by the Connecticut Trust

Sources

Photographs and field notes by Kathleen Healey: 08/10/2009

Aerial Mapping: Eastford Maps
http://www.bing.com/maps - accessed 6/30/2011.

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.