Going, Going, Gone - Vanishing Barns
By: Sven Kraumanis - owner/operator Legacy Vintage Building Materials & Antiques
Recently a man on T.V. said “we’ll never again see the lifestyle that existed 30 years ago” … a proposition adoptable by any generation, I suppose. However, a quarter century of post-war optimism and hard work did result in the 1970’s prosperity that sponsored many positive advantages indeed. The era also included the unfortunate demolition of a great deal of Canada’s built heritage- all in the name of progress. Nevertheless, 30 years ago small family farms were still viable in Canada- and their century old barns and outbuildings had factored heavily into the success of the agricultural lifestyle.
THE END OF AN ERA
During this period, massive round bales began to replace the labour intensive square bale, and mega-farms sought to buy out Ma and Pa operations. Agri-business, like any business is driven by the economies of scale and few farms had succession plans in place so the acquisition of them was fairly easy. Mercurial 1970’s real estate prices held hands with inflation and together they herded baby boomers into a decade-long home building and buying frenzy. Everyone became a land developer. Talk of land flips, tax shelters and joint ventures dominated cocktail party chatter. City boundaries expanded in every direction- at the expense of surrounding agricultural lands. The banks scrambled to lend funds to Campeau in Toronto, Pocklington in Edmonton, Skalbania in Vancouver and Trump in New York. Meat and dairy production facilities took on the appearance of manufacturing plants. Lab researchers explored genetic engineering to standardize the dimensions of livestock while efficiency experts exploited assembly line efficiencies to further cut production cost. Many a classic timber frame barn suddenly became redundant or stood in the path redevelopment.
Techniques in use for over 800 years in the design and construction of barns were eclipsed by the new economy and its technology- in one generation. One hundred and fifty years ago nearly every family had a barn. Where did they go?
The triumvirate of photos shows the Dingman Barn laying down to rest in May 2002- after 122 years of faithful service. Every piece of the barn was salvaged and re-used. (Photography: Christine Jenkinson)
WHY BARNS FAIL
An excavator or bulldozer is the usual remedy if a barn stands in the way of progress. Most barns however are out of harm’s way. The cause for their demise can be traced directly to the animals in the stable, or more accurately, to the absence of them. Notwithstanding the ravages of deferred maintenance that inevitably plague an uneconomic asset, the primary cause of most barns’ premature failure is a natural occurrence. What do the animals contribute to the longevity of the building? How do they protect it? A little background is necessary.
Most barns in the early settlements of Upper Canada were constructed with their length along an east-west axis and if possible, parallel to a slope. The barn’s smallest flank was thus exposed to the relentless prevailing westerly winds and its largest exposure was facing south thereby providing a warm sun-catcher as a barnyard. Additionally, hay wagons could then enter the barn’s main floor from the north side. This was made possible by digging the barn’s rear foundation wall into a side-hill or bank thus providing a natural ramp to the floor above the stable area. Hence these structures were described as “bank barns”. Feed could thus be conveniently thrown down to the livestock in the stable.
As small scale farming ceased to be viable, livestock no longer wintered in the foundations of these barns. The north walls, typically constructed of local fieldstones bound together by lime mortar, were for the first time exposed to frost. Of course drainage of the bank was never required nor installed and as autumn rains soak the soil behind the wall the soil freezes and expands, thus causing the wall to move and increase its lean to the south with each successive frost. Concurrently, massive floor timbers spanning the full width of the structure (“summer beams”) transmit to the barn’s south wall each movement of the south-migrating and crumbling north foundation wall. Eventually both walls bow out in the centre of the building. These stresses usually cause failures of mortise and tenon joints elsewhere, roof damage, leaks, rot and ultimately, structural collapse.
A departure of its occupants and their much needed body heat may thus seal a barn’s fate unless drastic remedial action is taken.
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