Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural Description:

This is a barn complex comprising of a 1 ½ story gable-entry barn towards the north and another 1 1/2 story gable-entry barn on southern gable-façade of the first barn. The western eave-façades of both the barns face Hathaway Lane while their ridge-line runs north-south parallel to the road. The eastern eave-façades of both the barns are tied together by a semi-open shed-roof addition. 

The 1 ½ story gable-entry barn towards the north of the complex has a shed-roof addition on its western eave-façade. The main façade of the barn is the northern gable-facade with the main entrance at the center through an open double-height wagon door entrance with the corners chamfered. The façade has a distinct girt siding divide line separating the gable attic above. The northern side-wall of the shed-roof addition can be seen flush with the main northern gable-façade of the barn towards the west. The western eave-façade of the shed-roof addition on the western eave-façade of the main barn has two square windows with white trim. The wooden frame of the barn and the shed-roof addition has vertical siding walls and asphalt roofing.

The 1 ½ story gable entry barn towards the south of the complex has an intersecting gable-roof on its western eave-façade. The main façade of the barn is the southern gable-façade which is symmetrical along the central axis through the apex of the roof. The main entrance to the barn is centered on the main façade through a wagon door entrance with the door leaf no longer in place. A pass-through door separated by a square window with white trim can be seen on each side of the main wagon door entrance. The façade also has a window opening just below the apex of the roof. The western eave-façade of the barn has an intersecting gable-roof addition towards the south. The wooden frame of the barn has wood shingle walls and asphalt shingle roofing.

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.

Field Notes

Two barns on Hathaway Lane, in wetlands area next to Pattagansett Lake.

Use (Historic)

• agriculture

Use (Present)

• unknown

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Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn
• Other

Environment features

• Open Land
• Woodland

Relationship to surroundings

The property is last plot on Hathaway Lane towards its east and has dense woodland towards the west and the south. A stream feeding Pattagansett Lake can be seen towards the north and the east of the property.

The barn complex is situated towards the northern edge of the property abutting to Hathaway Lane. It is surrounded by open land in all directions with a small water body towards the west. 

Building Typology

• New England

Materials

• Vertical Siding
• Wood Shingle

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Structural System

• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle

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Roof type

• Gable
• Shed

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Approximate Dimensions

n/a

Date Compiled

07/19/2010

Compiled By

T. Levine and M. Patnaik, reviewed by CT Trust

Sources

Photographs and information provided by –
Joan Rich, Lymening@sbcglobal.net

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.