subject: Homesteader Barn – Preserved For Future Generations [print this page] Homesteader Barn Preserved For Future Generations
Any person who has driven through the wide expanses of rural America and Canada could not have failed to see the beautiful old barns standing here and there. A homesteader barn was once a common sight in these areas because of the important role they played in helping the early settlers wrest a livelihood from the earth. Unfortunately, most of them have been pulled down over the years because there is no longer any use for them. Lots of the area once used for farming has now been converted to resorts or vacation homes.
There was a time, not too long ago, when it would have been unimaginable to have a farm without a homesteader barn. A barn was essential to the farmer because this was where the farm animals were housed and also where hay and other essential items were stored. Farmers spent a lot of time and effort in order to construct these old barns well because they had to be of use for a very long time.
Even though a homesteader barn had a utilitarian purpose, its importance to the early settler's success on the land was reflected in how well it was constructed. These antique barns therefore have a charm all of their own. Of late, there has been a lot of acknowledgement of the role these barns have played in the creation of the United States and Canada. It is widely accepted that their very presence in the countryside is essential towards preserving the cultural heritage of these two countries.
These antique barns have many admirers who believe that they have to be preserved for future generations. Many people buy colonial barns that are in bad need of repair and relocate them to their own properties where they are painstakingly reassembled. This is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination, and it is certainly not cheap, but the end result is amazing to look at. The task is made even more difficult by the fact that most modern workmen lack the technique of working with timber, which is what these old barns are made of.
Practically every colonial building was made of timber because it was easily available. Cheap to build with, repair, and these barns are no different. After all, the North American continent was well endowed with forests. The timber used for construction of farm houses, barns, churches and other structures varied from place to place, but it was almost always of the best quality. Even today, there are eager buyers for the timber salvaged from old barns that have been demolished.
People, especially those with a fondness for North American history, have not lost their love and admiration for these beautiful barns. There is a thriving business in homesteader barn scale models, either to be used as a decorative piece or as a toy. Theme parks and museums do a brisk business in them as well and they are an excellent way to educate young people about the history of the United States & Canada and the people who helped build these countries.
It will be an enduring tragedy as every homesteader barn is pulled down in the name of modernization because the countryside would have lost some of its personality. They are rarely used for their original purpose today, after all farmers use more efficient storage methods today. However, it is indeed a pleasure to see that people have lovingly restored these barns and given them a new identity as a home. This will ensure that these graceful barns will always be there as a souvenir of the pioneer days.
