Colonial Barns

Colonial barns came in all shapes and sizes and were constructed of different materials. Of course, most of the early ones were built of logs. At first, the immigrants designed their buildings based on what they would be used for and what they'd known in Europe. However, as they adapted to their surroundings, practicality won out. 

We think of barns as a place for cows and livestock with hay in the loft. However, even in colonial times, barns had many more uses. They were also a place for work. Farmers often used the barns as a place for repair jobs, and maintenance that needed to be done, especially during the winter months, when they weren't as busy elsewhere. It wasn't uncommon to find something like a woodworking shop in the barn.

In addition, grains were often threshed or shucked in or near the barn. In fact the word, "barn," started off meaning a place to store barley. There were also specialty barns, such as cotton barns and tobacco barns. The Quakers and Shakers even built some round barns. I find barns interesting, and take pictures of them wherever I go. They're not as common as they used to be, but they're still a part of rural America.

Reconstructed Colonial Cotton Barn

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