Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 1 ½-story gambrel-roofed barn structure with several additions: a Dutch gambrel-roofed, a shed-roofed, and a flat-roofed.  The main barn is oriented with its ridge-line parallel to Highland Avenue, which runs north-south.

The south gable-end of the barn has a small 1-story Dutch gambrel-roofed addition with a cobblestone masonry foundation, typical of a dairy barn milk-room. Located on the south gable-end of the addition is a pair of hinged vertical-plank doors. Located on the east half of the south gable-façade of the main barn is a one-over-one double-hung window. An attic vent is located in the gable attic of the south gable-façade of the barn. 

Located along the entire east eave-side of the barn is a low-slope shed-roofed addition which appears to be intended for retail showroom use.  A pair of swinging glass pass-through doors flanked by double-height vertical windows is located on the south side.  Three single-pane picture windows are located on the east side of the shed-roofed addition. Located on the north side of the shed-roofed addition is a swinging glass pass-through door with a single-pane picture window to its right (west). Mansard-like visors extend over all doors and windows on all sides of the shed-roofed addition on the east eave-side of the barn. 

Located on the north gable-end of the gambrel barn are two equidistant boarded-up window openings at the basement level.  An attic vent is located in the gable attic of the north gable-end of the barn. 

Extending west on the west eave-end of the barn is a large flat-roofed warehouse addition.  The north and west sides of the flat-roofed addition are blank. Located on the south side of the flat-roofed addition are two overhead garage doors, a single pass-through door, and an overhead garage door. 

The main barn and Dutch gambrel-roofed addition have wood shingle siding painted grey and cobblestone foundations. The shed-roofed addition has horizontal siding painted grey.  The flat-roofed addition has vertical metal panel siding.  The main barn and shed-roof addition have projecting overhangs.  The main barn, Dutch gambrel-roofed addition and shed-roofed addition have asphalt shingles.  Located on the north half and south half of the ridge-line of the main barn are a pair of hip-roofed cupolas with vertical louvered vents.  The roofs of cupolas have asphalt shingles painted red. 

Historical significance:

The New England barn or gable front barn is 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 constructed.
The gambrel roof enclosed a much greater volume than a gable roof did, and its shape could be formed with trusses that did not require cross beams, which would interfere with the movement and storage of hay. Also known as the curb roof, the double slopes of the gambrel offer more volume in
the hayloft without increasing the height of the side walls.

Field Notes

Remnant of agricultural history on the main road through town, converted to retail with a warehouse added on the rear. Now vacant (2010).

Use (Historic)

• dairy

Use (Present)

• retail

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn
• Cupola
• Other

Environment features

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Open Land
• Scattered Buildings

Relationship to surroundings

The barn is on the west side of Highland Avenue (Route 10). The ridge-line of the barn is parallel to the road. To the north and south of the barn are large parking lots.  The total size of the site is 2.76 acres. The area surrounding the site is industrial and commercial; Highland Avenue is a major commercial strip with retail, service, and other commercial and industrial uses.

Building Typology

• Gambrel

Materials

• Cobblestone
• Wood Shingle

Structural System

• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle
• Other

Roof type

• Dutch Gambrel
• Gambrel

Approximate Dimensions

Gambrel barn: 25 x 42 feet; 13 x 16 south ell; 16 x 42 feet east shed; 42 x 80 feet west addition.

Date Compiled

03/25/2011

Compiled By

A. Ehrgott & T. Levine, reviewed by CT Trust

Sources

Field notes and photographs by Charlotte Hitchcock date 10/20/2010.

Town of Cheshire Assessor’s Record http://www.prophecyone.us/fieldcard.php?property_id=2165010
http://www.prophecyone.us/fieldcard.php?property_id=2165939
Parcel ID: 19-20

GIS Viewer: http://www.cogcnvgis.com/cheshire/ags_map/

Aerial Mapping:
http://www.bing.com/maps accessed 03/25/2011.

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.