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Here is a bit of history I found:

The adoption of masonry materials created advantages over wooden silos. The structures could be made much taller due to the stability and strength of these materials; more weight could be supported. One of the greatest threats to a wood silo was rot and fire. With a masonry silo, the threat of fire was negligible, rotting was no longer a concern, and they were heavy enough that strong winds could no longer blow them over as had happened to many wooden silos. Also, masonry components were themselves airtight which made the sealing of the building against air leakage much easier to accomplish. Finally, masonry silos were more durable requiring much less maintenance. Some of the earliest silos built from masonry components are still standing today, many with little to no continual maintenance. In contrast, wooden stave silos seldom survived. Researchers Henderson and Isern noted that in all of their travels and studies they knew of only one that still stood in the Plains states. There were several different types of masonry construction. A wide variety of materials were used in the construction of silos. Brick was a natural candidate; however, they were not usually used because of their high cost and the need for skilled labor in the construction process. After the development of natural gas in the early 1900s, cheap gas-fired ceramic hollow blocks became a material of choice. Extremely popular, these ceramic block silos are still seen standing on many farms in the Midwest. Ceramic building material was durable, attractive, and helped insulate the silage from freezing. The dark brown and glossy appearance of fired tile proved to be a popular addition to farmyards and some companies offered farmyard “kits” that included tile barns, silos, and other miscellaneous outbuildings in a coordinating scheme. Kits were obviously quite expensive and proved to be shortlived, as farmers seldom wanted the added expense of coordinating their farmyards with a unifying construction material theme at an added expense.
I once saw an early PBS show where an old time craftsman was building a heavy, short wooden horse drawn logging sled with wooden sled runners in the traditional manner. He wrapped them in iron he forged from old metal bands for wooden silo staves as this was the most durable metal to withstand heavy loads being dragged over dirt, rock and ice. This type of iron is easily malleable and unobtainable as it is no longer produced. The craftsman had to search the metal piles at old farms to locate these iron bands. This comprehensive book on logging sleds mentioned "steel shoes" on the runners, but this craftsman used iron, as this was his own local experience in crafting the sled shoes.
 

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Brushed the dust off Madness today and took off for a backroads amble near a hunert miles mostly at 40 MPH or below. I'll mix up some barns and other photos I thought were interesting today.
Just a well maintained old barn looks like horse corral
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Back buildings at a local orchard. A hundred year farm.
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I like country churches.
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Found on the roadbed of the North Freedom Steam Train Museum.
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All that was left of this farmstead was the windmill.
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Going, going, soon gone.
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Pretty hard to see but a homestead log farmhouse in the trees.
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This made me laugh, had to go back and shoot it.
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Plaque tells the story of the next three.
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That ML safety wire, going strong.
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This had me reflecting, Village of Plain mebbie 1000 people, plus surrounding farms, Built and maintain; church, rectory, convent and a substantial school Pre K to 6th grade, all bought and paid for by the congregation.
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Absolutely perfect riding day today, made me appreciate how good an XS650 is for back road touring.
Looks like nice riding country
Just wrote down a note to self
Put safety wire on chain link
 
So lucky to live where I do. Just "headed west" traveling more or less 5-10 miles north of the Wisconsin River. Big fancy flat farms in the river bottoms but lots of small places, curvy roads, woods, hills, and valleys, as you head north away from the river, no map or GPS, just took township roads that "went into the hills", when I got my fill turned back eastward till I recognised the roads again. Seriously thinking of loading camping gear on the Venture and heading out again this afternoon for an overnighter.
 
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Looks like nice riding country
Just wrote down a note to self
Put safety wire on chain link
Yeah, I noticed the master link was wired and couldn't understand why. I never had a clip fail. I always used a needle nose to force the sir clip off the link by squeezing together the open ends of the sir clip and the axle of the link they were clamped on to and the clip would squirt forward and hang on the forward axle of the master link. But that looks like a great road fix if the chain came apart.
 
Yeah, I noticed the master link was wired and couldn't understand why. I never had a clip fail. I always used a needle nose to force the sir clip off the link by squeezing together the open ends of the sir clip and the axle of the link they were clamped on to and the clip would squirt forward and hang on the forward axle of the master link. But that looks like a great road fix if the chain came apart.
Im just going to do it as an added safety thing
Kinda like wearing a belt and suspenders
 
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Gave the ol' Green Slug some love today.

Love the old barn pics in this thread. None of that out here in ranch country. Back when those big beautiful northeastern barns were built, there was nothing out here 'cept for the occasional Teepee or two.

Much of what's out here is rather new, made to look old.
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Oldest thing I know of is this turn-of-the-century 1-room limestone schoolhouse.
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And even *that* has a tin roof...
 
I didn't think I'd ever see a large old stone barn in NY the likes of the grande structures Raymondo has shared with us,
but I did locate this stone barn just outside of West Winfield.
It took a month of rides to find it with the sun hitting the only visible side.
Its way off the road, so this is the best photo I could get with my iphone.

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The design is reminiscent of the Pennsylvania Dutch "hex signs" which adorned many barns in the 1700's and 1800's.

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From a website on the subject:

" Nestled in the rolling hills and valleys of southeastern Pennsylvania, a cultural treasure lies hidden in plain sight. Vibrant murals of stars, sunbursts, and moons painted in vivid colors punctuate the exteriors of the generously-proportioned barns of the Pennsylvania Dutch country in a manner that is unique among American artistic traditions. Complex, geometric, yet deceptively simple, these abstract representations of heavenly bodies once saturated the rural landscape, and now serve as cultural beacons of the robust and persistent presence of the Pennsylvania Dutch, who once settled and still maintain a strong presence in the region.

The residents of these quiet rural communities regard the stars as something to be cherished, yet perfectly ordinary—an agricultural expression of folk art, and as commonplace as eating pie. Nevertheless, for the outside world, the barn stars, also commonly called hex signs, have captured the American imagination as generations of visitors to the region marvel at the seamless integration of art into the agrarian countryside.

Just as humanity has marveled at the stars in the sky throughout history, and sought some sense of meaningful interpretation of their order and light, so too have these folk art depictions of the stars evoked a sense of wonder in all who behold them. For the Pennsylvania Dutch they are part of the fabric of life, but for those from outside of the community, the stars are thought to be representative of that which is otherworldly, mysterious, or supernatural.

Between these two different views, the history of the folk art barn stars has been the subject of debate for nearly a century, and is only now beginning to take shape yet again as Pennsylvanians in the present day not only rediscover the art form, but also strive to preserve their open spaces and agricultural communities. It is abundantly clear, however, that no matter how the stars have been celebrated, interpreted, commercialized, or appropriated throughout the centuries by inhabitants and visitors alike, their history is inextricably linked to the Pennsylvania barns themselves, and the Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture that built the barns, transformed the landscape, and continues to persevere in an ever-changing world. "

01.jpg
 
Gave the ol' Green Slug some love today.

Love the old barn pics in this thread. None of that out here in ranch country. Back when those big beautiful northeastern barns were built, there was nothing out here 'cept for the occasional Teepee or two.

Much of what's out here is rather new, made to look old.
View attachment 174962

Oldest thing I know of is this turn-of-the-century 1-room limestone schoolhouse.
View attachment 174963

And even *that* has a tin roof...

Its good to see you out and about on your XS1 again Steve! After stepping off of your modern Victory and hopping on your kick start , drum brake Yamaha, you must feel like you just stepped out of a time tunnel!
5A32530D-6BDF-4DF9-B1E5-60B7006CF825.gif
 
I didn't think I'd ever see a large old stone barn in NY the likes of the grande structures Raymondo has shared with us,
but I did locate this stone barn just outside of West Winfield.
It took a month of rides to find it with the sun hitting the only visible side.
Its way off the road, so this is the best photo I could get with my iphone.

View attachment 174981

View attachment 174982

The design is reminiscent of the Pennsylvania Dutch "hex signs" which adorned many barns in the 1700's and 1800's.

Hex-Sign-Barn-Postcard.jpg


From a website on the subject:

" Nestled in the rolling hills and valleys of southeastern Pennsylvania, a cultural treasure lies hidden in plain sight. Vibrant murals of stars, sunbursts, and moons painted in vivid colors punctuate the exteriors of the generously-proportioned barns of the Pennsylvania Dutch country in a manner that is unique among American artistic traditions. Complex, geometric, yet deceptively simple, these abstract representations of heavenly bodies once saturated the rural landscape, and now serve as cultural beacons of the robust and persistent presence of the Pennsylvania Dutch, who once settled and still maintain a strong presence in the region.

The residents of these quiet rural communities regard the stars as something to be cherished, yet perfectly ordinary—an agricultural expression of folk art, and as commonplace as eating pie. Nevertheless, for the outside world, the barn stars, also commonly called hex signs, have captured the American imagination as generations of visitors to the region marvel at the seamless integration of art into the agrarian countryside.

Just as humanity has marveled at the stars in the sky throughout history, and sought some sense of meaningful interpretation of their order and light, so too have these folk art depictions of the stars evoked a sense of wonder in all who behold them. For the Pennsylvania Dutch they are part of the fabric of life, but for those from outside of the community, the stars are thought to be representative of that which is otherworldly, mysterious, or supernatural.

Between these two different views, the history of the folk art barn stars has been the subject of debate for nearly a century, and is only now beginning to take shape yet again as Pennsylvanians in the present day not only rediscover the art form, but also strive to preserve their open spaces and agricultural communities. It is abundantly clear, however, that no matter how the stars have been celebrated, interpreted, commercialized, or appropriated throughout the centuries by inhabitants and visitors alike, their history is inextricably linked to the Pennsylvania barns themselves, and the Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture that built the barns, transformed the landscape, and continues to persevere in an ever-changing world. "

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Nice photos and history Jeff! Very pretty country!
 
Dude, thank you for that interesting history!
Every time I see a large stone structure, I imagine the enormous work that went into the construction.

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I'm a supporting member of the Stone Quarry Art Park in Cazenovia NY, a 104 acre rural sculpture park.

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Every 5 years they offer a hands-on training in stone wall building; I have yet to find the time to take all the sessions, and now my back just isn't up to the task :(

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Its good to see you out and about on your XS1 again Steve! After stepping off of your modern Victory and hopping on your kick start , drum brake Yamaha, you must feel like you just stepped out of a time tunnel!

Hey Bob, thanx!

Yeah, been awhile since in the XS1B saddle, the "hop" was more startling than I was expecting. Much smaller, lighter, nimble, twitchy, settin' high with the bike way down there, stiffer'n all-getout kickstarting. Took longer than I thought to regain the 'feel'.

Think I know of an old ranch/farmhouse out near LBJ's ranch.
Will try for that during our 'Indian summer'...
 
The Orange Peril and I pass through this farm quite often - the buildings stand both sides of the main road. Well, the B6460 which counts as a main road in this part of the world. One of the many routes we take to go to Berwick-on-Tweed.

Seems to be a fairly big farm but a collection of buildings like this is typical of many in the Borders, especially Berwickshire in the eastern part of the region.

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When I lived in NJ I was constantly riding up River road along the Delaware river..PA side...Lower and Upper Bucks County is very affluent and i would ride along and view many fine esstate propertties wwith all stone buildings including the huge barn(s). I also have seen many Pa Dutch barns with the Hex art/symbols on them...You just do not find that down here in NC...The Colonial and Revolutionary war era architecture and history has always fascinated me...I sorely miss that. The Delaware scenic routes are a big draw on weekends too...
 
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