Save Ontario Barns: May 2023

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Posted part of this to social media today.

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Canada, farm with old and new barns in Ontario

Canada, farm with old and new barns in Ontario - AGSL Digital Photo Archive - North and Central America - UWM Libraries Digital Collections

Title
Canada, farm with old and new barns in Ontario
Part of Set
Robert S. Platt Collection I - Nitrate Negatives
Special Note
Due to a malfunction inside Platt's camera, the majority of his first 8,000 images, dating from 1919 to 1933, have blurred areas where the unexposed film was not laying flat inside the camera. His 35mm photography after 1933 does not show this defect, but the condition of the film is rather poor, having been housed between loose sheets of paper in cardboard boxes for over 50 years. The majority of images he took from 1933-1963 are severely scratched. Therefore, only a small portion of Platt's photography has been chosen for online presentation.
Date
1936
Photographer's Note
8/21 Farm with new barn, old sod barn - cabbage. E
Photographer
Platt, Robert S. (Robert Swanton), 1891-1964

Prince Edward County barn photo

Prince Edward County barn. Photograpyed by Craig Moy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZWxav0glHx/

https://amainsider.com/on-the-road-in-prince-edward-county/

Barns | The Canadian Encyclopedia

'Before they're lost to history': Artist sketching dozens of local barns | CTV News

This Old Barn - Home in Canada

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The Rise and Decline of the Ontario Barn | 2 Old Guys Walking

The Beautiful Old Barns of Ontario, Canada in the Winter

The Archives of Ontario Celebrates Our Agricultural Past

I think I've posted this before. But, I'm not 100% sure.

1923 The Ontario Department of Agriculture

Barn Paint Colors

Barn Paint Colors | Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP)

There are several theories as to why barns are painted red. One belief is that barns are red so a farmer's cows can find their way home, but if so, that's a failed strategy since cattle are colorblind to the colors red and green. Others believe the popularity of red barns came from copying Scandinavian farmers, who painted their properties in rusty hues so that they would appear to be made of brick, a material they considered to be a sign of wealth.

The truth is barns weren't originally red, in fact, they weren't painted at all. The early farmers that settled in New England didn't have much extra money to spend on paint, so most of their barns remained unpainted. By the late 1700s, farmers began looking for ways to shield their barns' wood from the elements and began experimenting with ways to make their own protective paint. Reportedly Virginia farmers were the first to become paint-conscious. In Pennsylvania, the Dutch settlements latched on to the custom of red bricks, red barns, red geraniums, even reddish-brown cows. Painting your barn a red color caught on. Inasmuch as ready-made paint was not available, a farmer mixed his own paint. He discovered that skimmed milk, lime and red iron oxide made a plastic-like coating that hardened quickly and lasted for years. Linseed oil was subsequently added to the recipe to provide the necessary soaking quality. Thus American “barn red” was born. It came into being through function and utility, rather than decor or superstition.

So where does the red come from? In historically accurate terms, "barn red" is not the bright, fire-engine red that we often see today, but more of a burnt-orange red. As to how the oil mixture became traditionally red, there are two predominant theories:

Wealthy farmers added blood from a recent slaughter to the oil mixture. As the paint dried, it turned from a bright red to a darker, burnt red.
Farmers added ferrous oxide, otherwise known as rust, to the oil mixture. Rust was plentiful on farms and was known to kill many fungi, including mold and moss, which were known to grow on barns. By mixing oxide into paint it not only protected the wood, but gave it its deep dark red coloring.

Regardless, farmers also noticed that painting their barns with the homemade paint kept the buildings warmer during the wintertime, since the darker color absorbs the sun’s rays more than plain, unpainted wood. Red paint spread in popularity due to its functionality and convenience, becoming an American tradition that continues to this day.

What Does a Barn Star Mean?

What Does a Star on a Barn Mean?

Sure, the Americana style is a decor trend we love. However, a large five-point star prominently displayed on a barn does have a deeper meaning.

Sometimes, barn stars may be painted right on the wooden structure, but more often than not, they’re made out of separate pieces of metal and wood and then installed in place. No matter the material, these bold stars are also known as Pennsylvania stars or primitive stars. The primitive stars were commonly installed on barns by early Dutch and German settlers to ward off evil. The stars are known to bring good luck to farmers, too.

Is the Color of a Barn Star Important, Too?

While the meaning of a barn star is important, the color of the barn star can hold meaning as well. A brown star is known to symbolize friendship and strength, while white stands for purity and energy. A violet star is considered holy, while a green star symbolizes hope for growth and fertility on the farm. If you see a blue or black star, they symbolize protection for the farm. And a bright sunny yellow star? It holds a meaning of love of man and the sun.

Those who choose to hang a star on their barn can use the color meanings to help guide their choice, ultimately making a statement while also adding a unique piece of decor to their barn.

Source - Taste of Home