Farm Outbuildings and Plans
The rural context
Much of American history is associated with activities that were
not urban, not internationally oriented, and not national in
scope.
The principal occupation of free holders and slaves until the
20th century was agriculture.
Agriculture is practicing the possible—relating the
character of land with crops, availability of labor and the
potential markets for the products.
Agricultural buildings are adaptations to the particulars of
the crops and processes possible at the time of a building’s
construction.
Two realms of agriculture
Agricultural families (including those whose focus is grazing) divide
the landscape upon which the live and work into two zones.
The domestic agricultural zone.
Buildings associated with the house include: Dairies, meat
houses, well heads, privies, chicken coops, pigeon houses, kitchens,
tool sheds, wash houses, drying houses.
The income producing zone.
Buildings associated with harvest, processing, and storage of
crops, animals, or equipment.
In a slavery, or tenancy-based agricultural system the housing
of the majority of slaves, or tenant farmers was an economic
consideration.
Barns, granaries, stables, as well as combination buildings that
served multiple functions.
Barns
• Barns vary according to the region and agricultural practices.
– a. Bank Barn, 1920, Versailles Vic., Morgan County, MO. A Mennonite
community, this was the last barn of this type built there.
– b. Stone Bank barn, Baltimore County, MD
– c. Frank Chyle Jr. frame dairy barn Main St. Protivin, IA
– d. Harnsberger Octagonal Barn Augusta County, VA
– e. Chase-Redfield Barn, Main St., Randolph, VT. ca. 1804.
Barn Types
The most systematic study of
barn typology was
undertaken by Henry H.
Glassie. “The Variation of
Concepts Within Tradition:
Barn Building in Otsego
County, New York,” 1974.
Glassie created a typology
based upon the framing
systems.
Domestic agricultural buildings
• Ancillary buildings around the dwelling are often vernacular in
design and details.
– a. Smoke House Mount Airy, Richmond County, VA.
– b. Ice House, Aull House, Lafayette County, MO. Vernacular in use, but
not in details.
– c. Summer Kitchen, Weikert Farm, Adams County, PA.
– d. Slave houses, Ste. Genevieve Hotel, Ste. Genevieve , MO
– e. Summer Kitchen, Fort Lowell, Pima County, AZ
– f. dovecote, Bowman's Folly, Accomack County, VA
Slave Inventory at Moss Neck, May 18th 1858
20 Cabins
15 new, plastered, brick chimneys, sealed floors,
glass & sash, made of best material & in
thorough order & perfectly comfortable room
down & upstairs.
In all 56 buildings on Moss Neck. 50 frame
Houses, weather boarded brick chimneys &
underpinnings, 5 log houses –one brick chimney1 brick dwelling house & all in the best order
S. W. Corbin
Carter Family’s old house
from Davis, Jackson. “Practical Training in Negro Rural Schools;” The
Southern Workman. 42 (Dec. 1913): 657-671.
Prestwould Plantation, Mecklenburg County, VA
1797?
In 1860 John Dickinson had 20 slaves and six slave houses.
Today there is one
Hobonny Plantation, Beaufort Parish, South Carolina