Skokan Farm (933 Stillwater Pond Road, Torrington (Northwest Highlands))

Barn Record Torrington

RETURN TO ‘FIND BARNS’

Building Name (Common)

Skokan Farm

Building Name (Historic)

John O. Griswold Farm

Address

933 Stillwater Pond Road, Torrington

Typology

Overview

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

n/a

Field Notes

These barns were once connected by a barn that fell down under a snow-load in the 1970's, it once housed horses. The existing barns range in condition from good to poor. The haybarn, a 30 X 30 post&beam scribe-rule structure, is still used for hay and equipment storage, the floor space was divided in thirds, one side for hay, a middle bay for wagons and the south side housed cows; it features old chestnut stanchions. The middle bay had an overhead wood winch for butchering purposes. The old carriage barn now houses farm related equipment and has been stabilized with concrete tubes under the wood frame. All of the other structures are on field stone. Some of the roofs are asphalt shingles or tar paper, others are of galvanized tin. The barns closest to the road are in poor condition, with a plentitude of decay issues. The haybarn itself is in only fair condition- while it appears stable there is plenty of leaning in the structure. While he was alive, Victor Skokan contended that he knew where a construction date (1798) was written inside the haybarn, but this cannot be confirmed. The existing house on site probably dates to the 1820s or 30s; there is circumstancial evidence that this is the second structure on its foundation.

Use & Accessibility