Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

• Local Historic District
• National Register

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 1 ½-story gable-roofed barn structure oriented with its ridge-line oriented east-west, parallel to Church Drive, which curves in a U-shape connecting with South Main Street at both ends.

On the west bay of the north eave-side of the barn is a sliding barn door hung on an exterior track. A hood is located over the exterior track and extends across the center bay of the facade. The upper level is blank.

Located on the main level of the west gable-end of the barn are two equidistant single-pane stable windows. A horizontal trim board or simple belt course runs above the windows. Above is a swinging hinged hay door. A six-pane window is located in the gable attic of the west gable-end. 

On the south eave-side there are two stable windows on the ground level and it appears that there are several windows located on the loft level. 

The barn has vertical siding painted red with opening trim, belt course and frieze boards painted white.  The roof has a projecting overhang with sloped soffits, and asphalt shingles.

Historical significance:

Until the 1830s, the horses used for riding and driving carriages were often kept in the main barn along with the other farm animals. By the 1850s, some New England farmers built separate horse stables and carriage houses. Early carriage houses were built just to shelter a carriage and perhaps a sleigh, but no horses. The pre-cursor to the twentieth-century garage, these outbuildings are distinguished by their large hinged doors, few windows, and proximity to the dooryard.

The combined horse stable and carriage house continued to be a common farm building through the second half of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century, until automobiles became common. Elaborate carriage houses were also associated with gentlemen farms and country estates of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another form of carriage barn, the urban livery stable, served the needs of tradespeople.

Field Notes

This was the parsonage barn for the church. Located in the Cheshire Historic District; Rev. Vav Ogden Voight Parsonage (Federal, 1826-27) is inventoried but barns are not itemized as Contributing resources.

Use (Historic)

• carriage barn

Use (Present)

• unknown

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn
• Carriage House
• Garden
• Other

Environment features

• Commercial
• High Density
• Residential

Relationship to surroundings

The barn is behind and to the west of the c. 1912 Federal Revival-style house it is associated with.  The ridge-line of the house is parallel to the ridge-line of the barn. A chain link fence extends from the east half of the north façade of the barn. To the north of the barn is a c. 1827 church. A large parking lot associated with a church is located further west of the barn.  The total size of the site is 4.50 acres. The area surrounding the site is commercial and residential. The small green bounded by Church Drive and South Main Street is at the historic center of Cheshire, with the crossroads leading to nearby towns as well as the commercial functions of the town located along South Main Street (CT Route 10).

Building Typology

• Carriage House

Materials

• Flush-board
• Vertical Siding

Structural System

• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle

Roof type

• Gable

Approximate Dimensions

22 x 26 feet

Date Compiled

03/24/2011

Compiled By

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

Sources

Cornwall Avenue Town Center Historic District, Chesire Historic District, 2004, http://gis1.students.ccsu.edu/HistDist/Cornwall%20Avenue%20Town%20Center%20Historic%20District.htm

Field notes and photographs by Kristen Young date 08/11/2010. Additional field notes by Jeanne Chesanow.

Town of Cheshire Assessor’s Record http://www.prophecyone.us/fieldcard.php?property_id=2171706
(This is for 111 Church Dr. as 85 Church is part of the property at this address)
Parcel ID: 64-217 (This is for 111 Church Dr. as 85 Church is part of the property at this address)

Aerial Mapping:
http://www.bing.com/maps accessed 03/24/2011.

Cunningham, Jan, Cunningham Associates, National Register District Nomination No. 86002793, National Park Service, 1986.

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.