Glenbrook (429 Quaker Farms Road (Rte 188), Oxford (Western Uplands))

Designations

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This structure is composed of two 2 1/2-story eave-entry gable-roof barns, one with its ridge-line approximately parallel to Quaker Farms Road (Barn I), and one with its ridge-line perpendicular to Quaker Farms Road (Barn II), set at right angles to one another and joined together by a 1 1/2-story gable-roof addition from the gable-end of Barn I to the eave-side of Barn II (forming an “L” shape). There is also a large 1-story gable-roof pole barn addition perpendicular to Barn I and a small 1 1/2-story gable-roof addition also perpendicular to Barn I.

The main facade of Barn I faces east with its ridge-line approximately parallel to Quaker Farms Road which runs diagonally from southeast to northwest. The main facade has a double-height single sliding barn door with exterior overhead hardware located in the center bay of the facade so that it slides to the north. The door itself has two six-pane framed windows. There are no other openings on the facade. The grade declines along the base of the south gable-end of Barn I from the east corner to the south corner revealing the foundation. Centered high in the apex of the gable attic of the south gable-side of the barn, there appears to be an opening, perhaps a louvered vent. On the west eave-side of Barn I, the grade declines further to reveal a full basement. There is a single window centered on the main level of the west-eave side. The north gable-end of Barn I has no openings.

Attached to the west eave-side of Barn I, is the 1 1/2-story gable-roof addition (addition I), extending to the west. The stone basement wall is fully exposed on the south eave-side of addition I, and appears to have several openings. The second level of this addition appears to have a window in the west corner of the south eave-side. On the west gable-end of addition I, there is a single window centered on the second floor and a window centered high in the gable attic.

The north eave-side of addition I is attached to the south eave-side of the large, 1-story, gable-roof pole barn addition (addition II). The stone basement wall of addition II is fully exposed on the south eave-side. On the main level are three windows on the east section that juts out from the main portion of the addition, and one window on the south section as the wall steps back a few feet. The west gable-end of addition II has a pair of sliding barn doors which appear to be mounted on overhead hardware and centered below the peak of the roof. The north eave-side of the roof extends and wraps around the north wall of Barn II. The east end of the roof extension is flush with the east gable-end of Barn II.

Across the north eave-side of Barn II at ground level is the base of the large shed-roof extension of addition II, which appears to have several openings. On the north eave-side of Barn II, there are three windows on the upper level: two single windows at the north bay and west bay and a double window in the center bay. There also appears to be a tall storage unit of unknown purpose integral with the extending shed-roof at the north corner of Barn II. A single side-hinged hay door is centered on the second level of the east gable-end of Barn II. Directly above this hay door is another side-hinged hay door, the bottom of which ends slightly below the bottom of the dropped girt line siding divide. The south eave-side of Barn II appears to have a barn door at the main level as there is a shed-roof overhang extending across the entire lower level. There is a single window on the upper level towards the east corner of the south eave-side. On the west gable-end of Barn II there is an opening, most likely louvered, centered high in the gable attic.

Attached to the the south eave-side of Barn II, and connecting to the north gable-end of Barn I, is addition III (the gable-roof connector addition). Located on the east eave-side of addition III, there is a twelve-pane pass-through door at the south corner and an overhead garage door just to the north of this (located on the right). Above the garage door there appears to be a side-hinged hay door. On the small portion of the west eave-side of addition III, between Barn I and Barn II there is a window visible just south of center.

Both Barn I and Barn II have simple, square cupolas centered in their gable roofs. The cupolas have louvers on all four sides and their gable roofs follow the rooflines below. Barn I, Barn II, and addition III have vertical siding painted red with the trim on the rear facades painted white. Their cupolas are painted white with the louvers painted red. Additions I and II are clad in unknown material, but are painted red with white trim. All the gable roofs appear to be clad in asphalt shingles.

Historical significance:

Barn I and II: The oldest barns still found in the state are called the “English Barn,” “side-entry barn,” “eave entry,” or a 30 x 40. They are simple buildings with rectangular plan, pitched gable roof, and a door or doors located on one or both of the eave sides of the building based on the grain warehouses of the English colonists’ homeland. The name “30 by 40” originates from its size (in feet), which was large enough for 1 family and could service about 100 acres. The multi-purpose use of the English barn is reflected by the building’s construction in three distinct bays - one for each use. The middle bay was used for threshing, which is separating the seed from the stalk in wheat and oat by beating the stalks with a flail. The flanking bays would be for animals and hay storage.

Barn I only: The bank barn is characterized by the location of its main floor above grade, either through building on a hillside or by raising the building on a foundation. This innovation, aided by the introduction of windows for light and ventilation, would eventually be joined by the introduction of space to shelter more animals under the main floor of the barn.

Addition II: Most ground-level stable barns and free-stall dairy barns built since the 1970s have no hayloft. Instead, the roofs are supported by prefabricated wooden trusses covered with metal roofing. While most single-story truss-roofed barns in New England are constructed with concrete foundations and stud-framed walls, pole barns with open sides are becoming popular, especially for sheltering large herds of dairy cows, heifers, and beef cattle. Many of these large truss-roofed structures are free-stall barns, introduced in the late 1940s.

Historical background:

From Electronic Valley.org website: “One of the earliest existing homes in Oxford, Glenbrook is located at 429 Quaker Farms Road. The original owner and builder was William Tomlinson who received his land grant on March 8, 1673. The house was probably built about 1696. It has 14 rooms with 2 central fireplaces and 10 fireplaces. There is also a large cellar fireplace used in the original slave quarters. The original house was much smaller as additions were added in 1814 and again in the 20th century. This latter renovation was done by a Mr. & Mrs. Courtney. He was a New York Circuit Court Judge and was also involved in theatre. The home was the site of weekend sleighing parties for such actor friends as Basil Rathbone. Mrs. Courtney also endowed the St. Thomas Church in Oxford

Field Notes

Listed on the State Register of Historic Places 2/19/2014.

Use (Historic)

agriculture

Use (Present)

agriculture

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

Environment features

Relationship to surroundings

This property is located south of the town of Oxford, in a residential area. The barn is located on 45.5 acres that consists of two houses, a cluster of barns, and a small shed. Barn I is set back approximately 200 feet southwest of Quaker Farms Road with its main ridge-line parallel to the road while Barn II extends out in an “L” from Barn I with its ridge-line perpendicular to the road and is approximately 165 southwest of the road. The main house, which is set back approximately 75 southwest of the road, is Colonial in style and was built in 1686. Its main gable ridge-line is parallel to the road and it is approximately 65 feet in front of the Barn I. There is a smaller house set back approximately 100 feet southwest of the road and 40 feet north of Barn II. There is a small shed of unknown purpose approximately 60 feet northwest of barn II against the property line. The majority of the property is a mix of some open pasture and clustered trees. The property extends all the way to O’neil Road to the west. The house is clad in clapboard and the gable roof is clad with metal.

Book 338, Page 469, Parcel No. 13/54/2, Account No: Town of Oxford Property Listing: M0239200; Appraisal Vision:M0239200

Building Typology

Materials

Vertical Siding

Structural System

n/a

Roof materials

Asphalt Shingle

Roof type

Gable

Approximate Dimensions

Barn I: 1500 square feet, Barn II: 1250 square feet, 1-Story Addition: 3000 square feet.

Date Compiled

03/24/2011

Compiled By

R. Rothbart & T. Levine, reviewed by CT Trust

Sources

Field notes by Dottie Debisschop date 2/10/2009 and photographs by None noted date 08/12/2007.

Town of Oxford Assessor’s Record:
http://www.cogcnvgis.com/Oxford/ags_map/

Vision Appraisal Online Database:
http://data.visionappraisal.com/OxfordCT/

Parcel ID: 13/54/2

Aerial Mapping:
Google Earth: 8/30/2010
http://maps.google.com
http://www.bing.com/maps accessed 03/24/2011.

Electronicvalley Website: http://electronicvalley.org/tour/SchreiberFarm.htm

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.

Historic Barns of Connecticut

Barn Record Oxford