Historic Barns of Connecticut

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a two barn complex towards the east of South Main Street with gambrel-roof Barn-I towards the east and hip-roof Barn-II towards the west, abutting to the road. The ridge line of Barn-I runs north-south, almost parallel to this portion of the road. The following is the description of Barn-I while Barn-II is discussed in: http://www.connecticutbarns.org/editor.cgi/39511.

Barn-I: This is a 1 ½ - story three-bay eave-entry Dutch gambrel-roof bank barn. The west eave-side of the barn faces South Main Street with its ridge line running north-south parallel to the road. The main façade of the barn is the three-bay west eave-façade which has a wall-dormer at the center to accommodate the main entrance through a pair of full-height exterior-hung sliding wagon doors. The projecting eave of the wall dormer acts as a protective hood to the exterior-hung sliding tracks. The wall-dormer has a shed-roof two-pane dormer window at the center. The grade level along the main west eave-façade gradually declines towards the north to form the bank level along the north gable-side of the barn. The north gable-side of the barn has an entrance at the center to access the bank level through a hinged pass-through door and appears to have a boarded window just below the apex of the roof. The grade level along the north gable-end of the barn continues to decline towards the east wrapping the barn along its east eave-side. The bank level of the east eave-side of the barn appears to have an entrance towards the north and a series of windows towards the south. The south gable-end of the barn has two entrances at the bank level through two hinged pass-through doors; one at the center and the other towards the eastern edge. The south gable-end of the barn has a margin of exposed cement plastered masonry foundation. The gambrel roof of the barn has two steel ventilators towards either side along the ridge line. 

The wooden frame of the barn is supported on cement plastered masonry foundation. The barn has asphalt shingle roofing and white painted clapboard siding with white corner boards.

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.

Field Notes

Gambrel style dairy barn with block foundation and stanchions below. Horizontal novelty siding, asphalt roof. Possibly built in the 1930-40's, 2x balloon framing. Storage only and situated right on Rte 17 between Durham and Middletown. Also see Part 2 of 2 : http://www.connecticutbarns.org/editor.cgi/39511.

Use (Historic)

• agriculture

Use (Present)

• agriculture

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

n/a

Location Integrity

Unknown

Related features

• Barn
• Garage
• Other

Environment features

• Commercial
• Residential

Relationship to surroundings

The 7.7 + 1 acres property, Account number – R14150 & R10649 and Map lot number- 31-0016 is located towards the east of South Main Street.  The property is situated in mixed use area with individual plots separated by dense woodland and open land. Residential plots can be seen towards the north, east and the south of the plot while Dooley Pond is located towards the northeast. Some industrial and commercial units can be seen towards the west of the property across South Main Street.

The two barns are located in the southwest corner of the property with Barn-I towards the east and Barn-II towards the west, abutting to South Main Street. The ridge line of Barn-I runs north-south, almost parallel to this portion of the road. The circa 1900 old style main residence is located towards the north-west of the barn while a hip-roof garage is positioned towards the north of the main residence. The property has open land towards the north of the barn while woodland can be seen towards the extreme east.

Building Typology

• Gambrel Bank

Materials

• Clapboard
• Concrete
• Other

Structural System

• Balloon Frame
• Wood Frame

Roof materials

• Asphalt Shingle

Roof type

• Gambrel

Approximate Dimensions

Barn: 30 X 30 Sqft, Circa 1920; Barn : 38 X 90 Sqft, Circa 1920; Garage: 20 X 20 Sqft, Circa 1920.

Date Compiled

03/22/2011

Compiled By

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

Sources

Field notes and photographs provided by: Vin Scamporino.

Additional photographs provided by Todd Levine and Charlotte Hitchcock. 

Assessors’ records retrieved on March 22nd, 2011 from website http://middletown.univers-clt.com/index.php.

GIS information retrieved on March 22nd, 2011 from website http://host.appgeo.com/MiddletownCT/Map.aspx.

Photograph/Information retrieved on March 22nd, 2011 from website http://www.google.com

Photograph/Information retrieved on March 22nd, 2011 from website http://www.bing.com.

Photograph/Information retrieved on March 22nd, 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.