 |
| Morrow County, April 17,2020 |
Barns are an important part of our history. They housed animals and/or grain, making sustainable living possible. Barns were the "event centers" of early farming communities, where work became parties. I'm not sure that many people these days would look forward to a "corn shucking" party, but isn't it neat that barns have become meeting places again, with restored barns now popular for weddings and other receptions?
Family farms often had several barns, each with its own purpose. Examples of different types of barns are chicken coops, dairy barns with milking parlors, grain barns with massive hay lofts, and machine sheds. Some barns served multiple purposes.
I became inspired to photograph barns again when I joined the Barns of Ohio Facebook group. If you love barns, I suggest that you check it out. The group has many talented photographers, and the barns that are being 'saved' via imaging range from old and decrepit to well maintained. All are beautiful in my eyes.
I am not sure what the original purpose of this barn, found in Morrow County, Ohio, was. It probably served the farm family in various ways during decades past. And now it appears to be tired. Reduced to storing miscellaneous rubble, I wonder what stories it could tell if its walls could talk.
Barns and sheds like this one have character, which in turn give personality to our landscape. Somehow, the big metal buildings that are replacing historic farm structures give me a feeling of sadness because old beautiful barns are disappearing in their wake, taking a piece of our heritage along with them.
The next time that you are out for a drive, why not snap a pic or two of the barns you see along the way? They just might be there the next time you pass that way.
Marcheta *Barn aficionado