The barn at Stearns Hill is a four–story timber–frame building, 45–feet–by–90–feet‚ divided into seven bays. A bay is the physical space created by a construction unit called a bent. Seven bents form the framework of this barn.
Figuring out the story of the barn’s construction takes the patience and knowledge of an archeologist. We know the four middle bays/bents form the original footprint of the barn. We think they were completed around 1817 because that is when William Stearns‚ Jr. married and moved to the present hilltop location. Major moves and farm improvements often coincided with marriages.
In a family history, Joan Stearns Kilborn writes‚ “William Stearns‚ Jr. was assuming a share of his father’s original grant of three hundred acres upon Stearns Hill‚ with the intention of making his own way in life‚ lacking‚ however‚ a wife. He had chosen the hill top for a home–site and built a large wooden house to which he brought Joanna Porter in June 1817‚ when she was nineteen years of age.”
Looking at how the bents were constructed‚ you can see differences between the original four bents and the other three. It’s likely the bent at the gable entry was added first to connect the barn‚ the carriage house‚ and the farmhouse. According to architectural historian Thomas Hubka‚ author of Big House Little house‚ Back House‚ Barn‚ 95 percent of New England farmsteads were connected between 1850 and 1895. Hubka’s theory about why New Englanders connected their farmsteads is that it was the most efficient arrangement for farm/house enterprises and helped them compete with farms further west‚ “where they could grow more wheat in a year than a New England farmer could grow in a lifetime‚” (Thomas Hubka lecture‚ 8/10/06‚ Sweden Historical Society‚ Sweden‚ Maine).
Painting of the farm‚ circa 1875 by
Fannie Dunham Stearns
As the farm grew and a shift was made from raising sheep to dairying‚ the sixth bent added before 1895 (when William Child Stearns took over the farm)‚ and the seventh‚ and last‚ bent was added after 1900. We can be surer of the decade by checking the agricultural census records‚ which were kept after 1850. The census recorded all animals and equipment every ten years and shows when the farm was expanding and more room was needed for cows and hay.
Clues to date construction come in many forms. Knowledge of agricultural history provides insight. Construction–wise‚ types of windows‚ doors‚ latches‚ paint‚ nails and saw cuts add information. Family histories and diaries offer some explanations. But no matter how good a sleuth you are‚ “It’s easy to be fooled‚” warns Thomas Hubka.
The barn is currently being used for storage:
After it is repaired‚ the barn will again house animals–sheep‚ goats‚ a pair of draft horses‚ pigs and chickens. We plan to create a museum in the upper story with the collection of agricultural artifacts‚ carts‚ wagons‚ and sleighs we have on site. The museum will highlight the barn as a reflection of the family‚ rural society‚ agricultural practices‚ and change over time.
When Will Stearns actively farmed from 1895 to 1945‚ he shimmed and straightened the barn every year. A metal roof was put on in 1945 (using a much heavier gauge than is available today) and is in good condition. It is painted every five years or so with an asphalt–based paint. Keeping the roof in good condition‚ which prevents water damage‚ is one of the most important things you can do to protect a barn from deteriorating.
William H. Gibson had posts‚ foundation footings and sills replaced in 1998 and 2002.
This summer‚ with a generous gift from William H. and Jane P. Gibson‚ an emergency repair of a beam in the front gable of the barn was completed. A cross–tie had broken loose from its mortise and had dropped four feet. This caused the adjacent rafter to break and sheathing on the gable wall to buckle.
Barnwright Ed Somers of Bridgton, Maine made the repair. I regret that I did not document this process with photographs. More info
The grant of $10‚000 must be matched. A total $20‚000 will be used to stabilize the barn and rebuild the foundation on the north side. Due to contractors’ scheduling‚ and time needed to raise matching funds‚ work will take place in the summer of 2007.
A measurement survey will determine how far the barn is out of plumb. The technique uses a transit and laser levels and basic geometry (a2 + b2 = c2) to compare the position of the barn at many different points to one arbitrary point.
Nine feet of the foundation wall on the north side of the barn is falling down and will be rebuilt. Surface water has caused the wall to erode and the rocks are heaving forward. Repairing the foundation with the barn sitting on top of it is not easy. We are still debating the best way to go about it. Barnwright Scott Hatch of Harrison‚ Maine will do the repair.
The foundation runs the width of the barn under the 2nd and 3rd bent.
This section of the foundation is still structurally sound.
The last step is to stabilize the structure. The internal silo‚ likely built between 1880 and 1890‚ provides a great deal of internal support‚ but also poses a problem. It was built after the original barn had settled into position‚ so it prevents jacking the barn to make it plumb. Attempts to jack up the north side of the barn in 1998 lifted the silo and cracked its brick and mortar foundation.
The silo is an historic addition and is important to keep. To straighten out the barn‚ we will have to disattach the silo by cutting the nails. When the barn has been straightened as much as possible‚ then the silo will be reattached.
The system of knees (braces) is incomplete. Some are broken and some are missing. These will be repaired and/or replaced.
Estimates of the total repair easily reach $100‚000, and there are many unknowns. We do know it will be a multi–phased project. The work will take place over a period of several years‚ which will allow time to think through the process as each phase is completed.
Repair exterior stone retaining wall that fell down winter of 2006.
The milk house was also built after settling had occurred in the main barn. It needs to be disattached and either repaired or torn down. Part of the problem is its proximity to the road. It was once hit by a car. In heavy snow years‚ the snowplow pushes snow against it‚ compromising the structure.
Replace door in north linter.
Replace rotting floor joists and floor boards in the linter. Construct a suitable floor for goats and sheep.
Once the barn has been straightened as much as possible‚ repair windows and replace glass.
Replace exterior siding (cedar shingles) on entire structure‚ starting with the north side where the deterioration is worst. Replace inside sheathing as necessary.
Replace sliding door on exterior of carriage house.
Replace modern “garage door” on carriage house with a door in keeping historically.
Replace sliding doors on ground level of barn‚ south side.
designed by ghutchinson.