Worked at Well: The Stable Pump
by D. B. McCowan, P.Eng. (bmccowan@netrover.com) An old wooden pump sitting in Bill McCowan’s (1923-2018) barn in Pickering probably came from the Robert McCowan (1855-1931) farm on Kingston Road in Scarborough (Lot 22, concession C, at McCowan Road.). The pump was likely stored for years above the old horse stable along with some barn beams and two […]
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 wind events becoming increasing frequent and often threatening Ontario’s historic barns. If you have any barn stories, images or information you believe would be […]
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 necessarily so. The barn on the East end of our property ( We have 2, the […]
The Canada Farmer, 1864
by Diana Macdonald While doing research in The Canada Farmer, a fortnightly news journal printed in Toronto, from 1864 (slowing working my way through each issue), I have found detailed information on early barns in Upper Canada that I thought might be of interest to OBP. I have transcribed pertinent sections below: 1 March 1864: RURAL ARCHITECTURE. […]
Wagon Door Hardware — Strap hinges and Pintles
by Claudia Smith, OBP Secretary By the mid-1800s, Ontario farmers were increasing their grain production and three-bay English barns became common. They were typically longer than they were wide and had three more or less equal sections – a centre drive-through passage variously called the “threshing floor,” the “barn floor” or the “drive floor” […]
Most common Myth of Barn Conversions: Part 2
“My Barn has been standing for 100 years it should be good to go!” Most common Myth of Barn Conversions: Part 2 of 2 By Krista Hulshof … continued from Part 1 published on August 15th Some of the most common structural upgrades we end up making are roof reinforcement, foundation repairs, and floor strengthening for […]
Most common Myth of Barn Conversions: Part 1
“My Barn has been standing for 100 years it should be good to go!” Most common Myth of Barn Conversions: Part 1 of 2 | Continue to Part 2 By Krista Hulshof This is the phrase many barn owners think when considering a barn conversion. Unfortunately, this is the biggest myth of barn conversions, why can’t […]
In Search of Barn Folk Art (continued)
My name is Claudia Smith. I have been photographing, studying and collecting oral history about the old barns of Lanark County and eastern Ontario for many years. This is a continuation of a preceding posting about my investigation of the rich heritage of gable-end folk art. Other Gable End Cut-Outs The carefully sawn diamond cross […]
In Search of Barn Folk Art
by Claudia Smith I have been photographing, studying and collecting oral history about the old barns of Lanark County and eastern Ontario for many years. This first blog is about my investigation of the rich heritage of gable-end folk art. In Search of Barn Folk Art Many of the historic log stables and barns […]
Why are barns painted red?
by Thomas Durant Visser, Professor of Historic Preservation, University of Vermont, courtesy of The Conversation. This excerpt from The Conversation was recommended by Dr. John Carter, OBP Regional Representative for Bruce, Grey and Dufferin Counties in support of Ontario Barn Preservation including child-centred activities and articles. Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have […]