Sunday, June 25, 2006

German barn...

   

         


This week's hunt subject is "out-of-date, old, or antique".  This is a photo of a German barn.  They are also called  Pennsylvania or Sweitzer barns.   Their building tradition was imported by German settlers in the 1800's.  What makes them different from other barns is that they are quite massive and were designed to centralize operations into one barn instead of scattering them into multiple ones.  Also, they have a cantilevered floor, called a forebay, that extends over the feedlot above the basement level.  In other words, the second level extends over the first.  I have gone past these barns at times and have seen hay being dropped from the second level into the first to feed the animals.  The second level can be accessed easily from the ground at the back of the barn because these barns are actually built into the side of a hill.   Alot of times you will see hex signs on the side of them.  I live near Amish country and have seen some of these barns still in use.  This barn is about eight miles from my home.  I don't think it is in use.  Perhaps a family even lives in it.  It just looks too well-kept.

I will post all of the submissions tomorrow morning for "out-of-date, old, or antique".  If you want to participate, please leave your link by sun-up tomorrow!  Thanks and have a lovely day! xox


10 comments:

  1. That is an awesome picture. I love to see old barns when traveling across America. I love covered bridges too.....
    Thanks for sharing.

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  2.    Dear Val: Great barn!  Another important feature of this barn, that is not standard in American barns, also called  "English" barns in PA (and maybe in other states where Menonites, Amish and other Pennslylania Dutch, or more correctly Pennsylvania Germans, live and farm),  is that the upper level protrudes out above the lower level.  This permits the livestock to look out, or stick their heads out of the windows, in the weather-protected level during inclement periods. Oh, yes, the American dairy industry started in southeastern Pennslyvania among the Pennsylvania Germans.  Not in Wisconsin and Minnesota among the Scandinavians as many American school children are incorrectly taught.  The Pennsylvania Germans were full of American cheese first.   Dadeo. . .

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  3. Cool pic, Sissy.  Thanks Sissy and Dad for the history lesson!

    Krissy at Hope Lodge
    http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

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  4. This is GREAT!!!
    Love your choice of photo.
    Kate~

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  5. A great pic of the barn Val. I love old barns and farm buildings! Jeannette xx  

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  6. hello friend love the photo thanks for sharing you like finding out about history in your area i love to hear about it from you too would love to see the amish and how they live think we have some here but further out but they go to the store and stuff so i do not think that is true amish right lol anyway have a great week Gd bless kelley

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  7. That is an awesome barn.  I'll have to show it to my husband.  He loves old barns.  He was raised in Idaho and his grandfather was a farmer so he's been in his share of these wonderful structures.   Kathy

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  8. I loved this entry Val. Thanks for the tour of that lovely old barn.
    Love Sylvia xx

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  9. I love it!!! Old barns are great!
    Linda :)

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  10. Hey Val,  I agree with Linda...Barns are great!!  They have so much character and old world charm.  Nice entry!

    Greg

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