The Art of the Barn

AThe rtBof athren

Proudly presented by the Buc

The Essence of Bucks

Unique barns • Enchanting roads • Histo

cks County Audubon Society

County in a Weekend

oric beauty • Hidden secrets • Local artists

Meadow Spring Farm This barn is a clas
555 Old Bethlehem Road with a wood fram
Three of the walls
Perkasie, PA 18944 the fourth wall, o
a projecting frame
which was a later
barn to a smaller

The barn has deco
the wide wagon d
highlighting the s
wagon doors. The
ornate offset hing
and protected by
signs painted on t
horizontal girt in t
stepped lap notch
was formerly a ro
housed roof rafte
reused from the o

The Artists

Peg Cavanaugh:
landmarks and lan
and travels abroad

ssic stone three-bay bank barn The main barn is a three-bay barn. The central
me forebay and frame gables. threshing floor is flanked by a hay mow on either
s are stone to the eave level and side. This barn, like many others, has enclosed
on the barnyard elevation, has granaries partitioned off within the mows to
e forebay. The frame forebay, store grain. The granaries are in opposite corners
r addition, now joins the main of the barn. One is located to the left as you
enter the loft from the ramp and the other is
barn. along the forebay wall in the opposite mow.
Typical of granaries, farmers tried to protect
orative arches painted on their grain by covering holes eaten through the
doors and a matching arch wooden walls by mice. The granary has unusual
small “man door” within the doors protecting the individual grain bins. Among
e man door is attached by the other items of note are the built-in ladders in
ges. Now within the barn, the bents flanking the central threshing floor bay.
a newer addition, are old hex There is a metal hay rack with its original trolley
the original forebay wall. One at the peak of the roof.
the former forebay wall shows
hes. This indicates that this beam It is preserved through the Bedminster Regional
oof plate where the notches Land Conservancy.
ers. Presumably this is a beam
original barn on the property.

: Oil paintings of Gabriel Franklin: Gabriel Franklin’s body
ndscapes in Bucks County of work defies conventions by marrying the
d art of plastering, geometry, architectural
detail and functional form with layers and
depth of color and dimension

Drumbore Farm This barn appears
71 Sweetbriar Road of the nineteenth
the barn is stone
Bedminster, PA barn with a stone
are additions on t
current barn repla
property was purc
1811. Inside the b
carved in several l
the barn loft are t
and the built-in fo
The marriage mar
the particular ben
were located with
which bent it was
an additional sma

The barn originall
barn was modern
the early twentiet
was constructed o
One can still see t
siding in the stabl

The Artists

Mark Pullen: To
human spirit or ge
universe

s to date from the first quarter installed in the stable. The stanchion dividers are
h century. The main portion of stamped with the name of the distributor, “S.
to the gable. It is a three-bay Rosenberger” of Perkasie. As part of the early
e-sided earthen bank. There twentieth century emphasis on hygiene, barns
three sides of the barn. The were whitewashed and disinfected. A sign for an
aced an earlier log structure. The application of whitewash can still be seen in the
chased by Daniel Althouse in stable.
barn, the name “Althouse” was
locations. Other features within
the joinery “marriage marks”
ootholds in the mowstead walls.
rks indicate not only where on
nt the two pieces of lumber
h a large notch, but also on
s located with the placement of
all triangular notch or “flag.”

ly had a recessed forebay. The
nized for dairying sometime in
th century. A large shed addition
on the forebay side of the barn.
the original wooden forebay
le area. Metal stanchions were

paint the nobility of the Ron Bevilacqua: Unique sculptures
eese at rest, is to paint the reflecting the beauty of nature from
within the structure of the found wood
and stone

Tween Hills Farm This barn is of a ty
310 Hill Road Standard Barn. Th
Bedminster, PA bank barn with a
the stable doors in
The Artists superstructure ab
a symmetrical app
unlike earlier Penn
barns that had an
gable a saltbox ap

This barn is an ext
are three bays wid
between the fram
barn is four bays w
wagon floors in th
hay mow in each
demonstrated on
presence of two b
surmounted by pa
highlighted by a s

Each gable end of
distinguishing fea
of the gable is a v

Katy Krieg: Conte
works of still life a
watercolor and oil

ype classified as a Pennsylvania a swallow hole. The Pennsylvania Dutch term is
his refers to the fact that it is a Schwalma Loch. Below the cut out is a tri-partite
projecting forebay protecting window in a pedimented frame. Below the
n the barnyard. The frame window are three hex signs.
bove the stone stable level has
pearance from the gable end, The interior of the loft area of the barn is vast.
nsylvania German Sweitzer The bays of the barn are separated by large
n extended forebay giving the timber frame bents. The middle two bents have
ppearance. integral ladders above the mowstead walls.
Many of the timbers appear to have been reused
tremely large one. Most barns from another barn. Above the two central bays
de (a bay being the area are platforms, or overdens, that were used for
ming units called bents). This additional storage or as intermediate platforms
wide, with two threshing or to throw hay into the outside bays or mows. One
he central bays and a large unusual feature found in this barn is that each
end bay. This configuration is hay mow has a rough partition wall that appears
the barnyard façade by the to have been designed to keep the loose hay
banks of large winnowing doors from filling the forebay.
ainted arches. This elevation is
series of hex signs. The roof is so large that the rafters are supported
by two purlins (timbers that extend from one
f the barn has three gable wall to the opposite gable wall) on each
atures. Located at the very peak slope.
ventilating cut out often called

emporary realism Justin Long: Justin Long’s sculptures portray
and landscape in human and animal forms through the use of
ls carved stone and formed steel

Barnstead This barn is an exc
3648 Fretz Valley Road reuse of a historic
for—or re-purpos
Bedminster, PA the original functi
a challenge. Main
including characte
an additional chal
met in this barn. B
the replacement o
wall with glass pa
and general appe
maintained. This t
appreciation of th

The barn is a Penn
barn. It is primaril
framed as is the c
that includes the
barn is unusual in
ends of the barn d
or stop at the top
is not unique, it is
construction.

The Artists

Harry Boardma
animal and nature
oils and oil pastels
Montgomery coun

cellent example of an adaptive A distinguishing feature of this type of barn is the
c barn. Finding a viable use symmetrical gable walls. Unlike earlier Sweitzer
sing—historic buildings after barns that have a saltbox appearance due to
ion is no longer needed is a projecting forebay, the forebay of this style
ntaining the historic nature barn is recessed and not visible from the gable
er-defining elements of a barn is ends. The gable walls then turn inward to form
llenge that has been successfully corner piers upon which the forebay sill could
By limiting the changes to rest. These corner piers are called “pielerecks” in
of the original frame forebay Pennsylvania German.
anels, the essential footprint
earance of the barn has been
treatment also allows for the
he interior timber framing.

nsylvania Standard Forebay
ly stone. The forebay wall is
central portion of the rear wall
original large wagon doors. The
n that the stone in the gable
don’t go entirely to the peak,
p of the eave walls. While this
s not the common method of

an: Landscape, farm Dana Stewart: Bronze Beasts with
e inspired paintings in Whimsy and Tail
s featuring Bucks and
nties

Turtle Rock Settlement Farm This is one of the
455 Cafferty Road barns in Bucks Co
Erwinna, PA surviving example
a transitional struc
The Artists and a full bank ba
ground to enter t
foundation under
but not as tall as i

Log barns consist
logs are notched
The notches are t
(inverted V) in des
with a gap betwe
was then covered
the cribs was the
and also served as
basic three-bay st
timber frame and

Close examination
the logs were stac
Because one end
other, the logs we
of one log on top

RandL Bye: Photographs of 18th and 19th Frank Aster: Rou
century barns in Bucks County, reflecting functional stone a
his interest in architecture, landscape and
modernism

best preserved classic log crib beneath, and vice versa to keep the walls level.
ounty. In addition to being a rare
e of a log barn, it is quite rare as From the central bay, one can see openings in
ucture between a ground barn the log cribs. High up the interior wall of each
arn. There is a slight rise in the crib is a large hole through which hay could be
the rear of the barn and a stone pitched into the loft, where someone would
r the front of the log section, throw it to the back and stack it. On the westerly
in later barns. crib, approximately four feet above the floor are
a series of notches where logs across the pen
of two pens or cribs. The provided support for a ceiling for the stalls and
at the corners for strength. a mow floor above. Below these notches are
typically dovetailed or steeple a series of trap doors for dropping feed to the
sign. Two pens were constructed animals in the stalls. The stall ceiling log notches
een them. The entire structure on the easterly crib are at a higher level than
d with a roof. The area between the ones opposite. This provided greater ceiling
threshing floor or “barn floor” height for the horse stalls below as compared to
s wagon-shed. This created the the cow stalls in the western bay.
tructure that was adapted for
d masonry barns. Above the central bay, logs were placed from
pen to pen forming another mow, called an
n of the log cribs shows that “overmow,” or “overden” just under the roof.
cked in an alternating pattern. By tradition it was in this mow that unthreshed
of each log is larger than the grain was placed for storage.
ere stacked with the large end
p of the smaller end of the log The spaces between the logs were filled or
chinked only to the top of the stable level
to protect the animals from the weather. By
comparison, the gaps between the logs in the
hay mows were left open to provide ventilation
necessary to prevent the hay from becoming
moldy or burning from spontaneous combustion.

ugh yet refined Like many log barns, this barn had later
art additions. To the east of the log crib is a smaller
addition with a stone stable level and frame
superstructure. This section has a projecting
forebay. Attached to the east end of the stone
section is a later frame shed addition.

It is protected through a Tinicum Conservancy
conservation easement.

Isaac Farm The barn is a large
1034 Strawntown Road a recessed foreba
forebay, the main
Haycock, PA is a frame bank sh
shed roof addition
gable end of the b
addition is curved
provide additiona
complements the
multi-light window
to the granaries) w
building has wood
dated 1805. The r
in to provide addi
a three-bay barn a
been converted to

As with many ear
the roof purlins ar
as was more com
the barn, along th

The Artists

Joanne Isaac: Jo
regional architectu
printed by the arti
Etching press in he
and displayed in a

e bank barn constructed with interesting items. There is a small pinwheel or
ay. With the exception of the hex sign carved into the wood as well as several
n barn structure is stone. There initials. Near the granary, chalk tally marks noted
hed and a tall stone and frame the coming or going of grain. The nails used in
n appended to the southerly the wall are wrought nails, indicating the early
barn. The end wall of the date of the barn. At the ridge of the barn is a hay
d, perhaps intentionally to track. It is unusual in that it is constructed of a
al stability. A wood stave silo wood beam rather than metal.
e barn. The forebay has several
ws (originally to provide light One of the most fascinating aspects of the
while the remainder of the property is the presence of a number of
den louvers for ventilation. It is tombstones now displayed within the shed of
recessed forebay has been filled the barn. As early as 1759, one acre of the farm
itional stable area. The barn is had been transferred to the Baptist Congregation
and one of the hay mows has of New Britain and a church and graveyard
o an artist’s studio. established.

rly barns, the posts that support
re vertical rather than canted,
mmon on later barns. Within
he mowstead wall are several

oanne Isaac’s etchings of Densaburou Oku: International Japanese
ure and flowers are hand glass sculptor Densaburou Oku creates one-
ist on a Charles Brand of-a-kind fish sculptures made of glass and
er Applebachsville studio recycled materials

barn showroom

Asplundh Estate This barn is histor
1115 Strawntown Road family as the barn
tour. In the eighte
Haycock, PA it was owned by g
family, who gave
Strawntown. This
barn. The bank, o
level, has gracefu
The circular base o
to one of the wal
primarily of stone
a projecting poste
barnyard side of t
evidence on the e
louvered opening
windows have be
previous owner, th
destroyed the upp
original timbers th
not burn. While m
barn has undergo
class modern hors

Asplundh
Dressage

Arena

rically associated with the same
n on Isaac Farm, also on the
eenth and nineteenth centuries
generations of the Strawn
their name to the village of
s barn is a large three-bay bank
or ramp leading to the upper
ully curved stone abutments.
of a former silo is present next
lls. The barn is constructed
e with frame gables. There is
ed wooden forebay on the
the structure. One can see
exterior where several wooden
gs have been filled in and newer
een installed. According to a
he barn suffered a fire that
per half except for some of the
hat were so hard they would
maintaining its original form, this
one a transformation into a first-
se facility.

Asplundh Dressage Arena—
under construction:
Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders
An 84’x 84’ Dressage Arena nestled in
a field for the training of both horse
and rider. Smaller than a typical arena,
but large enough to accommodate the
standard Dressage pattern, this arena
with its wrap around windows provides
the perfect training space for both
horse and rider. (Dressage is an Olympic
equestrian event that focuses on slight
movements of the rider’s hands, legs
and weight to partner with the horse
in a series of intricate patterns.) This
arena size is also very workable when a
full size arena is not possible.

Presenting Sponsors Harry Boardman
Artist: Paintings and Custom Portraits
Paradise Energy Solutions, LLC 215.799.0266
875 Brackbill Road harryboardman.com
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877.851.9269 Anonymous
paradiseenergysolutions.com
Arts Across the Curriculum Initiative
Deb Carrier and Harry Gaines
Schlichter Tile and Marble
Champion Sponsors Contractors, Inc.

Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders 4818 Durham Road
148 Harristown Road Pipersville, PA 18947
Paradise, PA 17562 215.766.8415
800.881.9781 or 717.442.8408 stmcontractors.com
stoltzfusbuilders.com
Shady Brook Farms and the Market
Groundswell Design Group at DelVal
PO Box 438
Hopewell, NJ 08525 931 Stony Hill Road
609.466.8100 Yardley, PA 19067
groundswelldesigngroup.com 215.968.1670
shadybrookfarm.com
Sterlings of New Hope
210 Union Square Drive Partnership Sponsors
New Hope, PA 18938
215.862.3444 Rich Timmons Studio and Gallery
sterlingsofnewhope.com 3795 Route 202
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Univest.net 3795gallery.com

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100 Main Street
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tkfischerbuilder.com

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333 N. Main Street
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ragoarts.com Pipersville, PA 18947
215.766.0414
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4105 Durham Road
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609.847.7070 215.794.3888
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bluemoonacres.net Bucks County Herald
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J. Scones fax: 215.794.1109
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