Stamp Out Old Barn Loss!: A Virtual Gathering on Barn History and Preservation Trends
On Sunday, January 24, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance organized a panel of barn experts for Stamp Out Old Barn Loss!: A Virtual Gathering on Barn History and Preservation Trends.
In perhaps the first virtual northeastern regional preservation event, New Hampshire reached out to fellow northeast statewide organizations and the National Barn Alliance to partner on a program celebrating the U.S. Postal Service's release of the barn postcard stamp. The National Barn Alliance, Maine Preservation, Preservation Connecticut, Preservation League of New York State, Preservation Massachusetts, Preservation Pennsylvania, Preserve Rhode Island and Preservation Trust of Vermont all joined the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and over 240 participants for an afternoon of barn discussion and fiddling!
The expert panelists included:
Thomas C. Hubka, author of Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Architecture at the School of Architecture, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His newest book is How the Working-Class Home Became Modern, 1900-1940.
John Porter served New Hampshire as a Dairy Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension for over 30 years and continues to advise farmers on structures and farmstead planning. He is also the co-author of Preserving Old Barns: Preventing the Loss of a Valuable Resource.
Thomas D. Visser, Professor of Historic Preservation, is the director of the graduate Historic Preservation Program at the University of Vermont. His publications include the Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings and Porches of North America.
The panelists shared their wisdom on barn preservation and a bit about the new U.S. Postal Service barn postcard stamp. Preservation advice included making sure that vegetation is cleared away from the barn and maintaining/investing in the barn's roof. Standing-seam metal roofs can be an excellent and relatively affordable way to ensure long-term sustainability of one's barn. Thomas Hubka noted, "By preserving the roof, you preserve the barn."
Panelists also pointed out that barns can be adaptively reused with relatively little investment. Even storage is an adaptive use! If the barn is part of an active farm, it can be best to keep animals in a new barn and use the older barns for hay or a farmstand. Thomas Visser noted that he has seen continuous adaptations of barns over the years.
Following the panel, we had a break-out session devoted to New York State. Conversation among this smaller group focused on projects in the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier, and what kinds of assistance historic barn owners need. The Preservation League has been proud to support several historic farmstead surveys that have led to National Register designations of individual farms, opening up the possibility of preservation incentives like tax credits.
At the start and conclusion of the program, fiddler and singer Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki shared his talent with us all. Jordan performs throughout the Northeast and we all look forward to a future barn program when we can dance together to his music!