THE FARM OUTBUILDING
Fig. 13. A transverse crib barn with wood shingles (Bldg. 73).
Fig. 14. Animal shelter with round logs, saddle notches (Bldg. 47).
Fig. 15. Storage building with wood floor and an addition with dirt floor (Bldg. 40).
The small farms in the hill country were to a large extent self-supporting. Certain elements, such as food staples and clothing, were purchased at area or regional stores. But the rural farmer needed additional facilities to provide for his other needs. Facilities were built on the farm separate from the dwelling itself.
Farm outbuildings may be placed in two categories, dwelling-related outbuildings and farm-related outbuildings. Dwelling-related buildings were used on a daily basis and included the well house, smoke house, storage room, chicken house, privy, and sometimes the storm shelter. Farm related buildings, those necessary for agriculture and caring for livestock, included barns (single crib, double crib, transverse crib), storage buildings and often the potato house, blacksmith shop and syrup mill. “Crib” is a term used as a designation for room in farm outbuildings.
The drawings on this page depict the nature of the construction of farm outbuildings. They are basic structures erected by the farmer and his neighbors from available materials. Usually they are in the rear of the dwelling. Style and quality and finish of materials were not of great importance. These buildings were altered as needed.
The largest outbuilding was the barn which was used for the protection of horses and cattle and the storage of wagons and farm equipment. The transverse crib barn in [figure 13] included, in addition to the log crib, an open wagon shed, a sealed storage area and a loft for hay storage. Note the wood shingle roof and combination of rough sawn horizontal siding, logs, and vertical plank siding.
The small building in [figure 14] is similar in design to a smoke house but was probably used for animal shelter. The round logs have saddle notches and no chinking between logs. Ventilation was thus provided. The side addition gave storage area.
The clean, simple storage building in [figure 15] was constructed of flush sawn siding with a raised floor. The opening was for ventilation and light. The side addition has a dirt floor.