Arcadia Farm (Part 1 of 2) (131 Goshen East Street, Norfolk (Northwest Highlands))

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a two barn complex towards the west of Goshen Street East with a dutch-gambrel roof bank barn, Barn-I, towards the north and an E-shaped cross-gable roof barn, Barn-II towards the south. The following is the description of Barn-I while Barn-II is discussed is http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/37987.

Barn-I: This is a 2 ½ - story gable-entry dutch-gambrel roof bank barn with a 1 ½ - story dutch-gambrel roof addition on its south eave-side and two silos connected to its north eave-side . The ridge line of the main barn with the bank along its south eave-side runs east-west, parallel to Goshen Street East while that of the dutch-gambrel roof addition runs north-south. The east gable-end of the main dutch gambrel-roof barn flush with the east eave-side of the dutch-gambrel roof addition facing the road is the main façade with the main entrance at the center through a pair of double X-braced exterior-hung sliding pass-through doors. The main entrance is flanked by a six-pane stable window on either side. The façade has a double X-braced hinged hay door centered at the second floor level and a pair of exterior-hung X-braced hinged hay doors just below the apex of the roof that projects out to form a hay hood. The gable attic also has two six-pane windows, one each on either side of the hinged hay doors. The east eave-side of the dutch-gambrel roof barn has a hinged pass-through door at the center accessed by a wooden deck and a six-pane window towards the north. A shed-dormer with a six-pane awning window is centered on the dutch-gambrel roof. The grade level along the façade gradually declines towards the south revealing the rubble masonry of the bank level which has a three-pane window insert towards the south. The lower grade level along the main east-façade of the barn wraps the south eave-side of the main barn to accommodate the bank level. The south eave-side of the main barn has the dutch-gambrel roof addition towards the east and at least five six-pane awning windows equally spaced towards the west. The barn appears to have a shed-roof addition at the bank level touching the west eave-side of the dutch-gambrel roof addition. The south gable-end of the dutch-gambrel roof addition is symmetrical with two six-pane windows at the first floor level and two four-pane windows in the gable attic. The gable attic is lined by deep soffit with fascia board while a brick chimney can be seen emerging from roof towards the south. The main dutch-gambrel roof of the main barn has two shed-roof dormers on the eave-sides, each with a six-pane awning window, and two steel ventilators along the ridge line.

The wooden frame of the barn complex is supported on cement mortared un-coursed rubble masonry foundation. The barn complex has white painted horizontal siding and asphalt shingle roofing.

Historical significance:

By the early 20th century agricultural engineers developed a new approach to dairy barn design: the ground-level stable barn, to reduce the spread of tuberculosis bacteria by improving ventilation, lighting, and reducing the airborne dust of manure. A concrete slab typically serves as the floor for the cow stables. Many farmers converted manure basements in older barns into ground-level stables with concrete floors. Some older barns were jacked up and set on new first stories to allow sufficient headroom. With the stables occupying the entire first story, the space above serves a a hayloft. By the 1920s most ground-level stable barns were being constructed with lightweight balloon frames using two-by-fours or two-by-sixes for most of the timbers. Novelty or tongue-and-groove beveled siding is common on the walls, although asbestos cement shingles also were a popular sheathing. Some barns have concrete for the first-story walls, either poured in place or built up out of blocks.
The gambrel roof design was universally accepted as it enclosed a much greater volume than a gable roof did, and its shape could be formed with trusses. Also see entry for Pole Barn.

Cement silos were sometimes poured in place in one piece, but the more common practice was to pour large interlocking rings that were then stacked. As with wooden stave silos, the structures are held together with adjustable steel hoops, spaced about fifteen inches apart. Since concrete does not expand and contract with changes in moisture levels, the hoops on concrete stave silos were usually tightened only once after the structure was built. Inside, these silos are coated with a cement wash.

Field Notes

Beautiful barn, large active barn with "Certified Holsteins". It has a gambrel roof with silo.Close to road with associated buildings; deterioration. It is just north of Goshen line and has large ponds nearby. Also see part - 2/2 : http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/37987.

Use (Historic)

agriculture

Use (Present)

dairy

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

No

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

Barn
Silo

Environment features

Relationship to surroundings

The property is located towards the west of this portion of Goshen Street, bordering the town limits of Norfolk and Goshen. It is located towards the south of the residential plot at 140, Goshen Street East (2.4 acres, account number - 000226, map & lot number- 6-02/ 2/1 /). The property is situated in a pre-dominantly residential area of rural character surrounded by parcels of open land and dense woodland. Residential plots can be seen towards the north and the east of the property across Goshen Street East while dense woodland covers the area towards the west and the south. Hoover Pond is located towards further southeast of the property, along Goshen Street East.

The two barn complex is located in the northeast corner of the property abutting to Goshen Street East. The dutch-gambrel roof bank barn, Barn-I is located towards the north while the E-shaped cross-gable roof, Barn-II, is located towards the south. The ridge lines of both the barns run east-west parallel to the road. The two barns are separated by timber fence work while dense woodland covers the area towards the west and the south. A sign board displaying the name of the farm as ‘ARCADIA FARM: Certified Holsteins’ can be seen towards the southeast of Barn-I.

Building Typology

Ground-Level Stable

Materials

Structural System

Roof materials

Asphalt Shingle

Roof type

Approximate Dimensions

n/a

Date Compiled

01/03/2011

Compiled By

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

Sources

Photographs and field notes provided by Lynne Williamson, John Milnes Baker.

Assessors’ records retrieved on March 1st, 2011 from website http://data.visionappraisal.com/NorfolkCT/
Map/Lot/Unit: 6-02/ 1/ / /

Photograph/Information retrieved on March 1st, 2011 from website http://www.google.com

Photograph/Information retrieved on March 1st, 2011 from website http://www.bing.com/maps

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 Norfolk