The History of Barns

As my wife and I travel through the rural countryside of America, we are always amazed at the different types of barns that we see. Probably 90% of them are red in color. This is because of only one reason. The red paint made out of ferric oxide was the cheapest available. Most barns were very large and took a lot of paint. Barns come in all sizes and shapes. However, many of them are used for different reasons. The old barns are usually made out of wood. However, today most of them are made out of poles and metal. They are easier to build and quicker to put up.

Barns were first used for shelter for animals. Many had different stalls to keep the animals separated. One side would be for cattle and the other side for horses. Eventually even pigs, sheep, and goats had places set up for them. With the advancement of farm machinery, came a need for storage for them as well.

Prior to the 1900's, most barns were made out of post and beams. They were called framed barns. They were built strong to withstand high winds and weight of animals and grain. Between 1900 and 1940, many dairy barns were built. A dairy barn was built to hold feed for dairy cattle. As the cows would come in to be milked, they would be fed at the same time from the grain and hay that was stored in the barn. Thus the reason for a hayloft above the main room of the barn. The hay would then be pitched down to feed the cattle below. This was not only used for dairy cattle but all the farm animals as well.

In the early 1970's more barns were replaced with metal pole buildings like the one that Morton produces. these could be put up quicker and just as solid as the old wood barns. Still there are many wood barns still around. They still serve their purpose, are strong, and are a reminder to people passing by that they are in the country.