On our drive to Barrie last week I was struck by the number of barns that were starting to look dilapidated or where they were missing entirely. Coincidentally, this week's local newspaper had an article on an organization known as Ontario Barn Preservation, lamenting the disappearance of the century old original barns in southwestern Ontario. That got me thinking about barns.
This was in the middle of the fields where we saw the Sandhill Cranes. I suspect it's just a rural non-farm residence now and the barn is being neglected.
Down the sideroad was this old barn, which looked like it needed some maintenance.
I don't want to portray it all negatively. This was a nice barn still in use and being well cared for.
It even had a colourful barn quilt on the end.
So those 3 barns sent me back to look through the 200+ barn photos I've accumulated over the past 10 years. I'm pleased to say that there were relatively few that were looking dilapidated or about to fall down. But this was one near our old home that we watched slowly disintegrate over about 8 years.
At first glance this barn looks stable, but if you look closely through the gaps, mush of the back wall is missing. It;s gone now.
This one is obviously on its last legs.
Thjs barn is in the village of Heathcote.
And this one that I drove by for several years has now collapsed.
But I'm thankful to say that I have pictures of many more old barns that are being maintained, or have been restored. Over the next few days I'll share some of those and my thoughts about the future of barns in Ontario.
You do look at some and wonder how long they can last.
ReplyDeleteThe future of old barns almost everywhere looks pretty grim. Even where the owners have the desire and funds to maintain their old barns, there's a natural attrition due to fire, wind, insects, decay, arson and vandalism. Few landowners will replace lost barns, it's just too expensive and, except for some Amish men, hardly anyone has the skill to reconstruct a barn. A barn near here was destroyed by an arson fire and the owners (two doctors) had an exact reproduction built -- that's the only one I've seen rebuilt in 50 years.
ReplyDeleteIt costs a ridiculous amount to keep these old buildings in good condition if there's no longer any use for them. Here they are often converted to living accommodation which preserves at least most of the fabric of the building though of course it's no longer a barn. My friend who is a carpenter in Australia had quite a prosperous little business going at one time building barns for wealthy householders. Although they looked exactly like the real thing they actually contained playrooms, artists studios, snooker tables, recording studios and so on.
ReplyDeleteIn my area a lot of farm land is being rented out to one (or two) farmer, who has no need of the barns. The owners are getting up in age and don't farm themselves anymore. So the tenants crop and the farmers stay on in the residence. I can think of three farmers by name who collectively crop on thousands of acres between them, with a good dozen or more old timers collecting rents while their old barns fall down. A lot of the crop is corn going to fuel.
ReplyDeleteEven the most run down would be welcome shelter if caught out in a storm or massive snowfall, and the roof would give that much needed cover. Love every one, and they would all have wonderful stories hidden in the walls.
ReplyDelete… they would all have some wonderful stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I learned to see barns with new eyes when you started showing them to me on your blog. I have always enjoyed seeing these old buildings and thinking of times past. I look forward to more. :-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your barn photos!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like here I see more old neglected barns that well-cared-for ones.
Hope you are having a good week!
I enjoyed seeing these, even if some are on their last legs. There are several barns I have photographed that are totally gone. I hate to see them totally collapse.
ReplyDeleteYes there is always a bit of sadness when I see those old barns in disrepair. Once a few boards fall off and the wind gets into the barn it begins pushing at other boards loosening their old rusted nails and it's not long until another few boards are loose enough to fall. And then more wind gets in bringing rain, snow, and ice to rot and weaken the inner timbers. Geeezzz. kinda sounds like the aging process we humans have...….
ReplyDeleteThere are many in disrepair here. Farmers bail their hay with plastic covers instead of using the barn to store it.
ReplyDeleteLove the old barns and looking forward to seeing more. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see all the barns, old and new.
ReplyDeleteI live in an area where the tobacco barns are slowly collapsing. A few have kept them and repaired them, but many are now gone.
ReplyDeleteFun to see your barn photos and yes here there are many falling in disrepair:(
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