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Building Name (Common)
[Part - 1/2]Building Name (Historic)
[Part - 1/2]Address
757 Oenoke RidgeNew Canaan
Typology
Historic Significance
Architectural description:
This is a multi-unit barn complex towards the west of Oenoke Ridge comprising of an inverted U-shaped three-barn complex, Barn-I towards the north, Barn-II towards the south and a free-standing gable-roof out-building, Barn-III towards the immediate east of Barn-I. The west eave-side of the main barn of Barn-I, Arm-Ia and the west gable-end of Barn-II face Oenoke Ridge. The ridge lines of the main barn of Barn-I and that of Barn-III run north-south parallel to each other and to Oenoke Ridge while that of Barn-II runs east-west. The following is the description of the three barn complex, Barn-I while Barn-II and Barn-III are discussed in http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/42950.
Barn-I: This is an inverted U-shaped three-barn complex with its west arm formed by a 1 ½ - story three-bay eave-entry main barn, Arm-Ia. The east arm of the complex is formed by multi-bay gable-entry barn, Arm-Ib. The ridge lines of both the arms runs north-south parallel to each other and to the road. The base of the U-shaped barn complex is formed by a third barn, Arm-Ic, with its ridge line running east-west. The west gable-end of Arm-Ic is attached to the east eave-side of Arm-Ia while its east gable-end is attached to the west eave-side of Arm-Ib.
Arm-Ia: This is a 1 ½ - story three-bay eave-entry barn with a gable wall-dormer centered on its west eave-side. The west gable-end of Arm-Ic of the inverted U-shaped barn complex is attached to its east eave-side towards the north. The three-bay west eave-side of the barn facing the road is the main façade with the main entrance centered in the middle bay through a pair of double-height exterior-hung hooded paneled sliding wagon doors. The gable attic of the wall-dormer at the center is lined by deep soffit and has a nine-over-six double-hung sash with elaborate trim at the center. The first floor level of the north gable-end of the barn is blank with the gable attic separated by a distinct dropped girt siding divide line finished off in saw-tooth detail. The gable attic is also lined by deep soffit and a nine-over-six double-hung sash with elaborate trim just below the apex of the roof. The gable roof of the barn has a tri-partite louvered cupola at the center. The wooden frame of the barn asphalt shingles roofing and red painted vertical siding walls with white painted corner boards and trim.
Arm-Ib and Arm-Ic: Arm-Ib is a 1 ½ - story gable-entry barn with its main entrance centered on its south gable-façade. Arm-Ic is a 1 –story gable-roof eave-entry barn with its main entrance on its south eave-façade. The west gable-end of Arm-Ic attached to the east eave-side of Arm-Ia has a distinct girt siding divide line separating the gable attic. The north eave-side of Arm-Ic is flush with the north gable-end of Arm-Ib.
The wooden frames of both the barns have asphalt shingles roofing and red painted vertical siding walls with white painted corner boards and trim.
Historical significance:
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.
Field Notes
This barn suggests the changes taking place in Fairfield County at the end of the 19th century as it moved from an agricultural area to one that was home to wealthy residents. This complex suggests that the owner was a "gentleman farmer" rather than one who farmed as a way of supporting himself. This is an intact complex of late 19th century agricultural buildings. The buildings stretch down a hill, set well back from the road (and the associated house).(JS)
Also see part- 2/2 : http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/42950.