Blogs

Discover stories, insights, and technical know-how from barn owners, preservationists, and OBP experts dedicated to keeping Ontario’s barns standing tall.

All things Ontario Barns

The Old Barn Model: A Serendipitous Encounter (Part 1 of 3)

by Hugh Fraser, OBP President for 2023-2024 In September 2022, I worked three days on behalf of Ontario Barn Preservation at our inaugural display at the Outdoor Farm ShowTM, just west of Woodstock...

How to Build a Windproof Barn in 1935

Thanks to OBP’s Administrative Assistant Laura Brown for finding this amazing article in American Builder, August issue of 1935! This seems like a very appropriate topic these days with more severe...

The Sad Remains of a Barn in Southern Ontario

by Laura Brown, OBP Member and Our Stellar Volunteer Hello, my name is Laura Brown. I took these photos of an old barn in ruins, and more of the old farmhouse. I began photographing old buildings more...

Surplus Farm dwelling Severance Policy & how it has affected Ontario Barns

A letter to Ontario Municipalities This is a follow up to our research into surplus farm dwellings and how it has affected Barn on Ontario. We spent many hours chasing leads, calling municipalities...

Pintles in Many Places

by Claudia Smith, OBP Secretary (expanding upon Wagon Door Hardware, published Feb. 6 2023) More Pintle Hinging Around the Farm The wide wagon doors into barn threshing floors were the width of a team...

A Word of Caution

by John Uren Some words of caution to your readers. It’s easy to assume, as I did, that if the upper barn flooring and the supports underneath look OK, the floor is safe, and can carry a load. Not...

The Return of the Barn Swallows

Excerpts of an email to OBP by member Ted Spearing, edited by Jim Campbell I’m writing back in response to the newsletter and also a previous email concerning barn swallows. We have a wholesale...

Edgemont Barn

Author: Adam Foreman Msc., Museum Collections Manager; Erland Lee (Museum) HomeEditor: Sharifa Riley, Museum Curator; Erland Lee (Museum) Home The Lee family emigrated in 1792 after the end of the...

Hay Trolley

Hay Trolleys in the barn and restored as a collectors piece. by Robert Fleming There are several collectors in south western Ontario who collect and restore hay trolleys, along with documenting...

Barn Swallow Housing

Drawing provided by Linda Marie Glass Ward (Barn Swallow Carpenter). Edited commentary following provided by: Ted Spearing, OBP Member, in response to Linda Marie Glass Ward’s preceding postings on...

Building a Log Barn in 1840’s Nottawasaga

by Jim Campbell, OBP Vice President, Duntroon. In the early 1900’s my great-great-grandfather, Donald Blair, with only a Grade 3 education, made the effort and took the time to write down memories of...

Barn Swallows, The Shelf That Works

by Linda Marie Glass Ward (Barn Swallow Carpenter). All six species of Ontario Swallows are in decline by 80% or more. They are the Cliff, Tree, Rough Winged, Bank, Barn Swallows, and the Purple...