Barn Record Canaan
RETURN TO ‘FIND BARNS’
- Overview
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Designations
n/a
Historic Significance
Architectural description:
This is a 1 ½-story tripartite eave-entry barn with a gable roof. This barn is oriented perpendicular to Canaan Mountain Road, and its west wall is directly adjacent to the road right-of-way. The primary façade is the south eave-side. A long 1-story gable-roof addition projects north across the full length of the north eave-side (addition I). Additionally, a 1-story full-width shed-roof addition projects off the east gable-end of the barn (addition II). Canaan Mountain Road passes this property at a north to south angle.
The primary façade of this barn is the south eave-side, which contains the main entry. This main entry consists of a pair of oversize hinged doors of wooden plank construction, located in the center bay. A horizontal window opening with trim is located in the west bay on this side; the window has been blanked over. A modern security light fixture is mounted to the eave over the oversize doors. The remainder of this side is blank. The west gable-end is parallel to and located directly against Canaan Mountain Road. An electrical meter is mounted to this end on the first story. A projecting sign reading “Rustling Wind Stables” is mounted to the girt on this end, over the road.
The north eave-side of the main barn is completely occupied by a long 1-story gable-roof addition (addition I). The ridgeline of this addition is parallel to Canaan Mountain Road and perpendicular to the ridge of the main barn. The west eave-side of Addition I features two small window openings, one near each corner. A wide door-opening is set off-center into this side. The north gable-end of this addition is blank except for a rectangular opening centered in the gable-attic beneath the ridgeline. The east eave-side appears to be open along its length, allowing space for animal or implement storage. The east gable-end of the main barn is also occupied by a full-width addition; this one a single story with a shed roof (addition II). The north end of this addition appears to be blank. The east eave-side of this addition is not visible for the purposes of an Historic Resource Inventory. The south side of addition II is blank.
The exterior walls of the main barn are clad in vertical wooden flush-board. Addition I’s walls are also clad in wooden flush-board siding. The exterior walls of addition II are clad in vertical board-and-batten siding. All exterior wood cladding is unpainted. The roof surfaces of the main barn and both additions are covered in rolled metal sheets.
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
A working stable.
- Use & Accessibility
Use (Historic)
Use (Present)
Exterior Visible from Public Road?
Yes
Demolished
n/a
Location Integrity
Unknown
- Environment
Related features
Environment features
Relationship to surroundings
This barn is located directly adjacent to Canaan Mountain Road along this road’s east side. Canaan Mountain Road passes this property at a north to south angle. The primary façade of the barn faces south. Immediately to the south of this barn, Chattleton Road intersects with Canaan Mountain Road from the east in a T intersection. A gravel area is present to the south of the barn, between the main barn entry and the T intersection. A small creek passes to the immediate north of the barn, running underneath Canaan Mountain Road. To the east, north and south are fenced corrals, and a small racing track to the north. Beyond the track to the north up Canaan Mountain Road is an open field to each side of the road, and the farmhouse associated with this barn. Additional small corrals with scattered buildings are located to the south of the T intersection, part of the Rustling Wind Creamery. The surrounding area is mountainous dense woodland.
- Typology & Materials
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Building Typology
Materials
Structural System
Roof materials
Roof type
Approximate Dimensions
BARN: 910 square feet, ADDITION: 2,160 square feet
- Source
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Date Compiled
04/28/2011
Compiled By
N. Nietering & T. Levine, Reviewed by CT Trust
Sources
Photographs by Liddy Baker & Nathan Nietering.
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, 213 pages.
Map of Canaan, CT, retrieved on April 27, 2011 from website www.bing.com.
Canaan Assessor’s Records - Town of Canaan Assessor’s Office site visit - April 21, 2011.
- PhotosClick on image to view full file
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