Thursday, May 10, 2012

Barns of Northwest Wisconsin

 One of my favorite barns

Just about a mile up the road is this little white barn. I can't count how many times I've driven past that barn, and each time I enjoy its charm. See those heifers? Aren't they cute? And each time I go past that barn it makes me sad, for the north end of it is caving in, and it won't be long before the entire barn has collapsed. As I've mentioned in other posts about barns, our winters are harsh and our frost can go down as deep as eight feet in a severely cold winter. When springtime comes, those barns that haven't been occupied by cattle (that keep them warm,) suffer the heave and thaw of the ground beneath them, causing the structure to be compromised and then eventually, to collapse.

 For some reason, the photo above seems like it should accompany a James Whitcomb Riley poem, like maybe 'The Raggedy Man.' (I'll have to put that in another post. It's one of my favorites!)


Doghouse for a cute little Springer Spaniel

I may just put some of these barn photos into a coffee table book so that years from now our great grandchildren can see what used to be a common feature on the landscape in NW Wisconsin.

If any of you have never visited a small dairy barn, I hope you'll do so before they're all gone. And if you have, I'd love to hear your reminiscences. :-)

P.S. Kevin's watching Nova, a program about 'supertwisters,' in the other room. I had to get out of there. There's only so much of that I can stand to watch!

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36 comments:

  1. Yenta MaryMay 10, 2012 at 7:06 AM

    The old barns have so much character - they've lived lives, have stories to tell ....

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  2. Amy BurzeseMay 10, 2012 at 7:31 AM

    Yes, I think the only place our kids will see barns is in a book. I'm with you. We have enough real action here with tornadoes. I don't have to watch others.

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  3. RURAL May 10, 2012 at 8:22 AM

    That is a beautiful barn, and you have a lovely shot of it...thank goodness someone cares about them.

    It's hard to believe that one by one my most favourite barns are falling down...it's a real shame.

    Take as many photos as you can, one day the landscape will have a big hole in it, and it will never be replaced.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  4. Eileen HMay 10, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    It would be nice if it could be saved from collapse as it has such character.
    We have English Heritage which sometimes steps in to save these old buildings.

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  5. Judy S.May 10, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    We were all very sad when my Grandpa gave up his farm and sold it to a quarryiing company but his remaining years were a whole lot easier for him. Did you see the lion program before Nova?

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  6. Amy, a redeemed sheepMay 10, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    I love barns, too. =)

    I don't blame you for needing a break from your hubby's show. It's hard to see too much of that type of thing.

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  7. Empty NesterMay 10, 2012 at 9:38 AM

    I absolutely love old barns! One way Hubs could get me to travel would be to tell me I was going to get to photograph old barns all across the country!

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  8. kathy bMay 10, 2012 at 10:28 AM

    I Love the charm of old barns too!

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  9. Sunny Simple LifeMay 10, 2012 at 10:51 AM

    Oh to live near barns. You are a lucky gal for sure.

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  10. Debra HawkinsMay 10, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    I love barns! There is an old barn in the city where I met my husband that has an old 1920s advertisement painted on it. I love it so much.

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  11. BlueShellMay 10, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Those barns are amazing! And I like your header!
    BShell

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  12. Lois ChristensenMay 10, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    I love the curve of the barn! And yes, how sad it's going to be when it finally collapses. Hope you're having a good day!

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  13. Heide at ApronHistoryMay 10, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    Love the picture, so quintesential Wisconsin! It has a different shape to it, a little unusual.
    The only contact I have had with barns is the Annual Dairy Breakfasts. We went every year when I was little. Lots of good memories! Like getting stuck in the mud!

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  14. AnonymousMay 10, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    That old barn is lovely - I love the shape of it.
    Hope you're having a good day. Just home from work a while ago - and it's been a drizzly rainy day all day...need some sun and nice weather..

    Eva

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  15. RachelMay 10, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    Have I mentioned I love the barn pictures? :) I drive past some old barns going to my folks. I'm a nerd and like to think about what they were like 50/60/70 years ago and how much the land around them has changed!

    :)

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  16. CandaceMay 10, 2012 at 5:59 PM

    I think it's a wonderful idea to put these photos in a coffee table book to share with future generations. Your Wisconsin barns are so beautiful. I love them.

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  17. laurieMay 10, 2012 at 8:40 PM

    The pictures tell such a story...love old barns!

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  18. Carla from The RiverMay 10, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    Old Barns are so special. I love to look at them and study the special features each has.

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  19. AnonymousMay 10, 2012 at 10:06 PM

    Love the barns! Have precious memories of my grand-father's old barn, it's still standing. Thanks for all your lovely pictures.

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  20. Ruth KellyMay 10, 2012 at 10:51 PM

    It's a lovely old barn. About four blocks away, there is a neighbor who built a nice big red barn. Does he have animals? No. He uses it for a garage.

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  21. J_on_tourMay 11, 2012 at 12:42 PM

    It's a shame about the barns as I think they are such glorious buildings. Hope the supertwister stays well away !!

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  22. DeniseMay 11, 2012 at 7:35 PM

    Thanks for sharing.

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  23. KayaDecember 10, 2012 at 7:16 PM

    If I passed this barn i would photographed it also and perhaps so many times that eventually this barn would be tired of me.

    This is a real wonderful treasure you found. And I love the cows standing by this barn. I hope that this charming and beautiful barn will never ever be gone.

    Spectacular photographs!!!

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  24. CarlettaDecember 10, 2012 at 7:24 PM

    Love the shape of this old barn!
    Really nice you were able to capture the cows and the feeder out front. Adds to the charm.
    Sorry to here part of it is really to fall in.
    Sadly wooden barns are becoming a thing of the past.

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  25. TexWisGirlDecember 10, 2012 at 7:59 PM

    such a pretty roofline! thanks for sharing it while it still stands!

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  26. Grandma Barb's This and ThatDecember 10, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    There is so much charm to old barns. I hope this one is saved.

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  27. Nell at njschoutDecember 11, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    Old barns have such character compared to the new steel barns we see. Really like this one!

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  28. Elizabeth EdwardsDecember 11, 2012 at 6:25 AM

    great roof. lovely barn. so beautiful. ( :

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  29. Tanya BreeseDecember 11, 2012 at 6:38 AM

    beautiful!! sad to think that future generations will only see barns in a book :(

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  30. JoriDecember 11, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    This is so very charming. I love seeing the cows out front.

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  31. UnknownDecember 11, 2012 at 3:00 PM

    So much beauty in these old barns, and so important to document them while we still can.

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  32. ~Lavender Dreamer~December 11, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    The shape of this barn is so unusual!It really is important that we get photos of all these old barns and appreciate their beauty! Happy holidays!

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  33. MargaretDecember 11, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    Yes, a beaut! So sad she is so close to falling apart - one wouldn't know it from this angle.

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  34. ElaineDecember 12, 2012 at 1:23 AM

    Lovely old barn and to bad that it's falling down. I really like that first photo. Nice work!

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  35. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    The barn is a beauty & I highly recommend making a book of barns in your area, I did & it turned out pretty good.

    Thank you for joining! =)

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  36. Sally in WADecember 15, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Great shots of this beauty.

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