Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 1 ½ - story three-bay eave-entry barn with a shed-roof addition encompassing the entire length of its east gable-end. The ridge line of the barn runs east-west almost parallel to this portion of Codfish Hill Road. The three-bay north eave-side of the barn facing the road is the main façade with the main entrance centered in the middle bay through a pair of double-height hinged wagon doors with blacksmith hardware. The grade level along the north eave-façade of the barn gradually declines towards the west revealing the un-coursed un-mortared field stone masonry foundation while the eave-level is lined by exposed rafter tails. The north side-wall of the shed-roof addition on the east gable-end is flush with the main north eave-façade. The east gable-end of the barn has the shed-roof addition encompassing the entire length just below a distinct dropped girt siding divide line separating the gable attic. The west gable-end of the barn has two six-pane stable windows, one each towards either side. The gable attic lined by cornice board has an ornate falcon at the center just above a distinct dropped girt siding divide line. 

The wooden frames of both the main barn and the shed-roof addition are supported on un-coursed un-mortared field stone masonry foundation. The main barn has asphalt shingles roofing and red painted board-and-batten siding while the shed-roof addition has asphalt shingles roofing and red painted vertical siding walls.

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

Visible and very close to road. Historic use unknown, currently used for garage. Residential area. Stone walls Vertical B&B siding, red color. Typology: English (but entire structure not visible) Gable roof w/ asphalt shingles.

Use (Historic)

• agriculture

Use (Present)

• garage

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn
• Shed
• Stone Walls

Environment features

• Open Land
• Residential
• Rural
• Woodland

Relationship to surroundings

The 10.98 acres property with multi-housing, Account Number- R02452 and Map-block-lot number- 77 57 073, is located towards the south of Codfish Hill Road. The property is located in a pre-dominantly residential area with individual plots separated by woodland. Residential plots can be seen towards the east, south, west and the north of the property across the road.

The barn is located in the northeast corner of the property, abutting to codfish Hill Road. The ridge line of the barn runs east-west almost parallel to this portion of the road. The 1910 old style main residence of the property is located towards its southwest while the northern edge of the property is defined by field stone masonry boundary wall. Open land can be seen towards the west and the south of the main residence with two gable-roof sheds in its southwest corner. The ridge lines of both the sheds run east-west. The area towards the south is covered by dense woodland. 

Building Typology

• English

Materials

• Board & Batten
• Fieldstone
• Vertical Siding

Structural System

• Load-bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle

Roof type

• Gable
• Shed

Approximate Dimensions

Barn: 12X14 Sqft, Circa 1910; Barn: 12X24 Sqft, Circa 1910; Barn: 24X43 Sqft, Circa 1995;

Date Compiled

06/13/2011

Compiled By

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

Sources

Field notes and photographs provided by: Gary Nurnberger, 11/29/2010.

Assessors’ records retrieved on June 13th, 2011 from website http://bethel.univers-clt.com/

GIS Map/ information retrieved on June 13th, 2011 from website http://hosting.tighebond.com/bethelct/main.htm

Photograph/Information retrieved on June 13th, 2011 from website http://www.google.com

Photograph/Information retrieved on June 13th, 2011 from website http://www.bing.com.

Photograph/Information retrieved on June 13th, 2011 from website http://www.zillow.com.

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.