>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

[ MUSIC PLAYING ] [ HAMMERING ] [ CHISELING ] [ COWS MOOING ] >> OLD POST AND BEAM BARNS HOLD MORE THAN HAY, THEY HOLD MEMORIES OF TIMES PAST AND POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE.

WHETHER YOU'RE FASCINATED BY CRAFTSMANSHIP, FEEL NOSTALGIC ABOUT VISITS TO YOUR GRANDPARENTS' FARM, OR SIMPLY FIND PLEASURE IN A LOVELY COUNTRY VIEW, THIS STORY ABOUT BARNS IS A STORY FOR YOU.

FROM THE OUTSIDE DECORATIVE TOUCHES OFTEN CATCH ONE'S EYE FIRST: A DRAMATIC DOOR, A GRAND CUPOLA, A FINELY WROUGHT WEATHERVANE.

WHEN WE GO INSIDE, WE FIND UNDER THE VENEER OF A HARD WORN WORKPLACE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF WOOD AND STONE.

>> A HORSE BARN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO BE.

EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL WITH A PONY, I'VE LOVED BEING IN BARNS: DAIRY BARNS, HAY BARNS, ALL KINDS, BUT NEVER ONCE DID I THINK ABOUT HOW THEY WERE BUILT OR HOW OLD THEY MIGHT BE.

IN FACT, I TOOK THEM FOR GRANTED AS A NATURAL PART OF THE LANDSCAPE.

BUT THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING, AND SO MANY BARNS HAVE DISAPPEARED SINCE I WAS A KID.

RECENTLY, INTEREST IS GROWING IN PRESERVING THESE HUMBLE AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES, AND I WANT YOU TO MEET SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEIR BARN STANDS STRONG AND PROUD FOR YEARS TO COME.

ALONG THE WAY WE'LL UNCOVER SOME CLUES TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT ABOUT HOW OLD A BARN MIGHT BE AND IF IT'S BEEN ADAPTED TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES IN THE WAY FARMING'S BEEN DONE OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS.

BUT, FIRST, THE BASICS.

WE'LL FIND A MAN, AN AXE, AND A GREAT BIG OAK TREE.

CARO THOMPSON: RICHARD BABCOCK WORKS WITH TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES THAT EARLY EUROPEAN SETTLERS WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY.

FOR OVER 40 YEARS HE'S MOVED AND RESTORED SOME OF AMERICA'S OLDEST BARNS.

THIS 17TH CENTURY STRUCTURE NEEDS NEW SILLS BECAUSE THE OLD ONES RESTING ON THE FOUNDATION HAVE BECOME ROTTEN.

REPLACEMENT SILLS ARE BEING HEWN ENTIRELY BY HAND.

AN AXE CUTS INTO THE OAK LOG TO A LINE MARKED ON THE BARK.

THAT LINE DEFINES ONE EDGE OF THE SQUARE TIMBER THAT WILL SLOWLY EMERGE FROM WHAT WAS ONCE A TREE.

IT'S A TWO-STAGE PROCESS.

AFTER SCORING A SECTION, RICHARD SWITCHES TO THE BROAD AXE TO DO THE HEWING.

RICHARD BABCOCK: READING ABOUT HISTORY IS ONE THING, BUT WHEN YOU CAN SEE HISTORY DEMONSTRATED, THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT JUST READ WHAT SOMEBODY HAS SAID, WE CAN SEE IT.

IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ME ABOUT 4 TO 5 DAYS, PROBABLY A WEEK TO GET IT COMPLETED BECAUSE IT IS SO BIG.

AND THIS IS ONE MAN.

WITH TWO, WELL, WE'LL CUT THAT IN HALF.

CARO THOMPSON: AFTER WATCHING THE PROCESS, IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE STRETCH TO IMAGINE BEING AN EARLY BARN BUILDER WHO TOOK THIS ENORMOUS TASK FOR GRANTED, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BARN FRAMES WERE BUILT ENTIRELY BY HAND.

HERE'S AN IMPORTANT CLUE TO A BARN'S AGE: HEWING MARKS.

IF BOTH BIG TIMBERS AND SMALL ANGLE BRACES SHOW THE USE OF AN AXE, THE BARN IS VERY LIKELY FROM BEFORE 1800, BUT THE DATE REALLY DEPENDS ON WHEN A SAWMILL WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE AREA.

CARO THOMPSON: IN ORDER TO RESTORE THIS BARN, IT HAS TO BE COMPLETELY TAKEN APART.

THE 3-MAN CREW LOWERS A 60-FOOT LONG BEAM KNOWN AS THE PLATE WITH THE HELP OF 2 LABOR-SAVING DEVICES: ONE IS THE BULL WHEEL.

>> THIS GIVES YOU MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE WHICH IS REALLY LEVERAGE, THE LEVER BEING THE POLE GOING THROUGH THE SHAFT HOUSED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE BULL WHEEL, THE MEN BEING THE BULLS HAVING TO TURN THE WHEEL.

THE GIN POLE, WHICH YOU SEE WITH THE ROPES AND THE PULLEYS, THAT GIN POLE YOU CUT FROM THE FOREST, AND UPON THE END THERE YOU LEAVE A BRANCH, A GOOD, STRONG BRANCH, THAT WAY YOU HAVE A STRONG POINT IN WHICH TO TIE YOUR ROPES.

CARO THOMPSON: BUT WE'RE GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

RAISING A BEAM TO THE RIGHT HEIGHT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE JOINERY WHICH HOLDS TIMBERS TOGETHER HAS BEEN DONE.

UNDERSTANDING HOW JOINERY WORKS IS THE KEY TO A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF TIMBER FRAME BARNS.

AT THE SHELBURNE MUSEUM IN VERMONT A REPLICA OF AN 18th CENTURY BARN WAS BUILT IN THE SUMMER OF 2001.

ON THE MUSEUM GROUNDS PROJECT MANAGER TED INGRAHAM DEMONSTRATED HOW TO MAKE MORTISE AND TENON JOINTS.

THESE JOINTS HAVE BEEN HOLDING POSTS AND BEAMS TOGETHER FOR COUNTLESS CENTURIES IN BOTH HOUSES AND BARNS.

IT PROVIDES US WITH A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HISTORIC METHODS AND TO GET A TASTE OF UNFAMILIAR TERMINOLOGY.

FOR INSTANCE, TENONS ARE MEASURED AND CUT FROM THE END OF A BEAM.

>> THIS IS THE CARPENTER'S FRAMING SQUARE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS IN HIS KIT.

THE SQUARE IS MADE UP OF 2 BLADES, TONGUE AND THE BODY, AND THESE 2 WIDTHS WERE USED TO ESTABLISH THE WIDTH OF THE TENONS AND THE OFFSET OF THE SHOULDERS ON A MORTISE AND TENON JOINT.

CARO THOMPSON: FIRST, THE LENGTH IS MARKED.

>> THEN THE LINES ARE EXTENDED DOWN TO FORM THE SIDES OF THE TENON, AGAIN USING THE TONGUE OF THE SQUARE, OFFSET THE SHOULDER, AND THE WIDTH OF THE TENON.

CARO THOMPSON: VOILA!

1 TENON OUT OF A TOTAL OF 140 NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT IS DONE.

FOR THE MORTISE, WHICH THE TENON GOES INTO, TED'S USING A TOOL THAT WAS INVENTED IN 1830.

TED INGRAHAM: THE BORING MACHINE IS BASICALLY A DEVICE WITH A WOODEN SEAT THAT YOU SIT ON TO HOLD THE MACHINE ON THE SURFACE OF THE TIMBER.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO BORE A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT HOLE, A PERFECTLY PERPENDICULAR HOLE.

ON A 6-INCH MORTISE YOU'D HAVE TO DRILL A SERIES OF 3 HOLES WITH A 2-INCH BIT, AND THEN YOU WOULD CHISEL OUT THE REMAINING WOOD.

CARO THOMPSON: THE FINAL STEPS BEFORE SECURING THE JOINT INVOLVE DRILLING A HOLE THROUGH THE TENON AND THROUGH BOTH SIDES OF THE MORTISE.

TED INGRAHAM: THE MORTISE AND THE TENON WERE BORED SEPARATELY, AND THE HOLES THAT WERE DRILLED INTO THE TENON WERE DRILLED SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO THE SHOULDER.

THE HOLE BEING OFFSET WOULD CAUSE THE PIN TO BEND, AND THE PIN BENDING WOULD CREATE TENSION, AND THE TENSION WOULD HOLD THE JOINT TOGETHER.

CARO THOMPSON: PEGS TYPICALLY START WITH OAK OR ASH THAT'S SPLIT INTO RECTANGULAR BILLETS.

THE ROUGH WOOD IS TAKEN TO A SHAVING HORSE AND SHAPED INTO THE ROUND BIT BY BIT WITH A DRAW KNIFE.

BILLETS, DRAW KNIFE, SHAVING HORSE, AN ALMOST EXOTIC VOCABULARY TO MODERN EARS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EVERYDAY USAGE IN 1790, THE PERIOD OF THIS EVOLVING EXHIBIT AT SHELBURNE MUSEUM.

>> WE HAD THE SETTLERS' HOUSE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS OTHER STRUCTURE THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY KEY TO THIS FAMILY'S SURVIVAL, WHICH WAS THE BARN.

WE BUILT AN ENGLISH-STYLE BARN.

TRADITIONALLY THESE BARNS MEASURE MOST OFTEN 30 FEET BY 40 FEET.

CARO THOMPSON: AT THE BARN SITE A STONE FOUNDATION WAS LAID.

>> ON TOP OF THAT WE LAID A 7X7 INCH SILL WHICH WAS THE FLOOR OF THE BARN AND DEFINED THE SHAPE.

THE SILL IS JUST HELD BY GRAVITY TO THE FOUNDATION.

CARO THOMPSON: A TIMBER FRAME BARN IS SO HEAVY AND JOINERY HOLDS IT TOGETHER SO WELL THAT EVEN MUCH BIGGER BARNS ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR STONE FOUNDATIONS BY NOTHING MORE THAN GRAVITY.

>> THE FLOOR JOISTS WERE FIT INTO COGS THAT WERE CUT IN THE SILLS.

CARO THOMPSON: AFTER FLOOR BOARDS ARE NAILED ON, ALL THE PIECES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE HIGH POINT OF THE PROJECT, A BARN RAISING.

>> WE STARTED JULY 2nd, AND IT TOOK A CREW OF 4 PEOPLE WORKING ABOUT 40 HOURS A WEEK, 5 WEEKS TO FINISH THE WHOLE FRAME.

AND THEN WE NEEDED TO ASSEMBLE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE STRONG ENOUGH AS A GROUP TO LIFT THE 30-FOOT LONG WALL 11 FEET HIGH.

>> SLOWLY LIFT.

OKAY, SET IT DOWN.

HOW DID IT FEEL, TOO HEAVY?

>> YEAH, IT'S TOO HEAVY.

MAKE IT LIGHTER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

EVERYONE READY?

OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A SLOW AND DELIBERATE LIFT.

GO AHEAD.

GET YOUR GRIP.

GET UNDER IT.

ALL RIGHT.

KEEP GOING.

OKAY.

YOU'RE GETTING NEAR VERTICAL.

KEEP GOING.

OKAY.

YOUR POST FEET GOING IN?

ALL RIGHT.

A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OKAY.

HOLD IT RIGHT ABOUT THERE.

TIGHTEN UP ON YOUR ROPES.

ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO CLAP WHEN WE GET IT UP IN THE AIR?

>> YES.

>> 1, 2, 3.

OKAY.

KEEP GOING.

OKAY, YOU'RE NEARING VERTICAL.

SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE, BUT KEEP PUSHING.

HOW DOES THE POST SEAT LOOK, JOHN?

>> LOOKS GOOD.

[ APPLAUSE ] CARO THOMPSON: IT TOOK LESS THAN A MINUTE TO LIFT EACH WALL, AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC PART OF THE PROCESS, THERE WAS A LOT MORE LEFT TO DO.

MUCH OF THE WORK REQUIRED SKILLED TIMBER FRAMERS LIKE JAN LEWANDOSKI WHO GUIDED VOLUNTEERS AS THEY HELPED TO ERECT CENTER POSTS.

>> TAKE THE LOWER ONE.

THAT IS THE LOWER ONE.

TILT THAT ONE OUTWARD A WAYS.

>> EASY.

>> IT'S GOT TO GO IN ABOUT AN INCH MORE OVER HERE.

GIVE IT A HARD HIT WITH THE POST.

DROP THAT DOWN LOWER.

IT GOES DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOT.

THEN WE'LL ENGAGE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

FINGERS CLEAR?

>> YEAH.

CARO THOMPSON: HISTORICALLY, NEIGHBORS WOULD HAVE HAD THE KNOW-HOW TO HELP.

BARN RAISINGS WERE JUST THAT COMMON.

THERE'S A KIND OF SIMPLE ELEGANCE IN CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT CONNECTS LITERALLY TONS OF WOOD USING ONLY SMALL WOODEN PEGS.

>> THE BEAMS ARE ALL HEMLOCK, AND THAT'S THE PREDOMINANT WOOD, ESPECIALLY IN THE 19th CENTURY THAT BARN FRAMES WERE MADE OF.

WE HAD TO LIFT HEAVY TIE BEAMS THAT WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 350 POUNDS APIECE STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR AND THEN DROP THEM ON THE TOP OF THE GUNSTOCK POST.

CARO THOMPSON: JUST AS IT WAS FOR RICHARD BABCOCK'S CREW, A GIN POLE WAS KEY TO RAISING THE BEAMS.

BUT SINCE THERE WERE LOTS OF HANDS TO PULL THE ROPE, THEY HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE POWER WITHOUT USING A BULL WHEEL.

>> YOU HAVE TO COME TOWARD ME A LITTLE BIT.

LOWER IT A BIT MORE.

HOW'S THAT MIDDLE POST?

>> LET THE TIE BEAM OUT JUST SLIGHTLY.

>> NICE JOB.

[ APPLAUSE ] CARO THOMPSON: 4 TIE BEAMS, ALSO CALLED CROSS TIES, HOLD THE EAVE WALLS TOGETHER, AND THEY ALSO SUPPORT THE RAFTERS.

>> DOES THAT WORK ALL RIGHT?

>> YEAH, PERFECT.

>> USING OLD METHODS TO BUILD WITH IS I THINK MORE INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S LESS WRITTEN ABOUT THE SUBJECT, SO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF LEARN ON YOUR OWN AND EXPERIMENT.

>> YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO PUSH IT OUT TO THE WEST SLIGHTLY.

>> I ACTUALLY FIND TIMBER AND STONE BEAUTIFUL MATERIALS, PLEASANT TO WORK WITH.

CARO THOMPSON: IT SEEMS A SHAME TO COVER UP SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE, BUT IT'S NOT A BARN UNTIL IT'S DRESSED IN SHINGLES AND SIDING.

A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE BARN RAISING, 2 DOORS ARE INSTALLED ON EACH OF THE EAVE WALLS.

TED AND LISA START WITH ONE FINISHED FRAMEWORK AND THEN THE SAME SHEATHING THAT COVERS THE SIDES OF THE BARN IS NAILED ON.

[ HAMMERING ] CARO THOMPSON: A PINTLE DRIVEN INTO THE POST SUPPORTS THE HINGE STRAP FOR THE DOOR.

KATHY WOOD BROOKS: WHEN THE BARN IS FULLY FURNISHED, WE HOPE THAT VISITORS WILL GET A SENSE OF WHAT IT TOOK TO SUPPORT ONE'S FAMILY AND TO PROSPER IN VERMONT IN THE 1790s.

A SETTLER MIGHT HAVE AN OX, A COW THAT COULD BE MILKED, SOME CHICKENS, PIGS, MAYBE A HORSE, BUT THAT'S NOT MUCH LIVESTOCK; HENCE, THEY ALL WOULD BE ABLE TO FIT INTO THIS SMALL KIND OF BARN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT IS NOT THE TYPICAL, OH, LIFE WAS HARD BACK THEN BUT TO ACTUALLY GO DEEPER AND DEMONSTRATE HOW COMPLEX EVEN THESE EARLY COMMUNITIES WERE.

THE ECONOMY WAS DEFINITELY A BARTER ECONOMY, SO WHATEVER GOODS YOU HAD A LITTLE EXTRA OF YOU WERE LENDING TO SOMEONE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WHEN THEY HAD MORE PORK, THEY WOULD GIVE YOU BACK THE PORK THAT YOU HAD GIVEN TO THEM.

IN 1790s VERMONT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF SETTLERS WERE OF ENGLISH DESCENT.

IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT THE BARN TYPE THAT THEY WERE BUILDING IS WHAT WE NOW REFER TO AS THE ENGLISH-STYLE BARN.

>> THE MOST CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF THE ENGLISH BARN IN THIS COUNTRY WAS A GUNSTOCK POST.

IT SWELLED AT THE UPPER END BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH COMPLEX JOINERY GOING ON AT THE TOP OF THE POST.

CARO THOMPSON: THE GUNSTOCK POST IS LIKE A NEON SIGN EVEN TO A NEOPHYTE.

IT SAYS THIS IS A VERY EARLY BARN.

THE JOINERY PUZZLE AT THE TOP GOES LIKE THIS: THE BEAM ON THE EAVE OR LONG SIDE OF THE BARN IS CALLED A PLATE AND GOES ON TO 1 OF THE 2 TENONS.

THE CROSS TIES FIT INTO 2 DIFFERENT JOINTS.

ONE IS A MORTISE AND TENON, BUT THERE'S ALSO A NOTCH IN THE CROSS TIE, PART OF A HALF DOVETAIL JOINT THAT FITS INTO THE PLATE.

AND YOU'LL NEVER SEE THAT DOVETAIL JOINT IN A FINISHED BARN BECAUSE IT'S ALL HIDDEN.

NOT ONLY ARE THE GUNSTOCK POSTS UNMISTAKABLE, BUT THE BASIC LAYOUT OF THE ENGLISH-STYLE BARN IS SO STANDARD IT'S OFTEN EASY TO RECOGNIZE ONE WITHOUT GOING INSIDE.

>> THE DOOR WOULD BE ON THE EAVE SIDE OF THE BARN A LITTLE OFFSET.

>> THERE ARE 3 BAYS TO THE BARN.

>> THE SMALLER AREA TO ONE SIDE OR OTHER OF THE DOOR WOULD HAVE BEEN THE AREA WHERE THE ANIMALS WERE KEPT, AND THE LARGEST AREA BY FAR WOULD BE THE HAY STORAGE AREA.

>> THE CENTER PART WAS THE CENTRAL PLACE FOR THRESHING, AND WINDROWING, AND THE PROCESSING OF GRAIN.

>> THEY MADE IT TIGHT SO THAT THE GRAIN WOULDN'T FILTER THROUGH THE FLOOR INTO THE SPACE BELOW BECAUSE IT ATTRACTED RODENTS AND VERMIN.

CARO THOMPSON: THE THRESHING FLOOR WAS A PRODUCTION FACILITY FOR GRAIN LIKE WHEAT OR RYE, THE FIRST STEP INTO ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO FLOUR.

A TOOL CALLED A FLAIL, BASICALLY 2 CONNECTED STICKS, WAS USED TO SEPARATE THE EDIBLE KERNELS OF GRAIN FROM THE PLANT STALK.

ENGLISH-STYLE BARNS EVEN WORKED WELL WHEN A TREMENDOUS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE ARRIVED: THE HORSE POWERED THRESHING MACHINE; BELT DRIVEN.

AN INTERNAL MECHANISM DID THE WORK ONCE DONE WITH A FLAIL.

THE RESULTING STRAW WAS CARRIED ALONG A CHAIN-DRIVEN CONVEYOR BELT.

STRAW IS OFTEN STILL USED FOR ANIMAL BEDDING.

IT HAS NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE.

THE KERNELS OF GRAIN COLLECTED IN A WOODEN BOX ON THE MACHINE WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A GRIST MILL TO BE GROUND INTO FLOUR.

ENGLISH-STYLE BARNS ARE SO PLAIN ONE MIGHT NOT NOTICE THEM, BUT THE EARLIEST ONES GO BACK TO A TIME OF TREMENDOUS CHANGE, WHEN THE UNBROKEN FORESTS OF NATIVE PEOPLES WERE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SETTLERS OF EUROPEAN ANCESTRY HAD KNOWN.

CARO THOMPSON: AS NETWORKS OF ROADS BECAME WELL ESTABLISHED, COMMERCE GREW, AND SO DID THE SIZE OF BARNS.

I FOUND THAT STRUCTURES OFTEN EVOLVE OVER TIME, AND THAT TO UNDERSTAND HOW, I NEEDED SOME POINTERS FROM AN EXPERT ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

>> I'VE PASSED BY THIS BARN ON ROUTE 7 NUMEROUS TIMES, AND I SEE A BARN.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE?

>> WELL, LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THAT BARN, I SEE A BARN PROBABLY FROM BETWEEN 1850 AND 1880.

LOOKS LIKE ONE BARN TO ME FROM THE OUTSIDE, VERY UNIFORM ROOF LINE, UNIFORM BOARDING AND TRIM SCHEME.

THERE'S A CATTLE SHED ON THE REAR WHICH WAS LIKELY ADDED TO IT, PROBABLY IN THIS CENTURY IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> SO THAT WASN'T ORIGINAL?

>> NO.

>> AND HOW CAN YOU TELL THAT THE SHED BEHIND IS NOT ORIGINAL?

>> HORIZONTAL SIDING AS OPPOSED TO THE VERTICAL SIDING OF THE OLDER BARN, AND THE CONCRETE BLOCK FOUNDATION, 20TH CENTURY.

>> OF COURSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW JUST HOW OLD THEIR BARNS ARE.

WHERE DO YOU LOOK TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUILT?

>> OH, I GO INSIDE AND LOOK AT THE TIMBER FRAME.

THE EXTERIOR BARNS ARE CHANGED ALL THE TIME.

THEY'RE REBOARDED, RETRIMMED TO LOOK LIKE A CERTAIN ARCHITECTURAL PERIOD, BUT INSIDE THE FRAME WILL TELL US WHETHER WE'VE GOT 1, 2, OR 3 BARNS AND IN WHAT PERIODS THEY WERE BUILT IN.

>> LET'S GO LOOK.

>> NOW THAT WE'RE INSIDE THE BARN, WHAT DO WE LOOK AT FIRST?

>> WELL, I LOOK AT THE TIMBER FRAME, AND QUITE SPECIFICALLY, I LOOK AT THE HEAD OF THE POST WHERE THE POST, TIE BEAM, PLATE, AND RAFTER ALL COME TOGETHER, AND FROM THAT I CAN TELL A TREMENDOUS ABOUT WHEN THE BARN WAS BUILT.

IT'S A FLARED POST FOR STARTERS, FLARED OR GUNSTOCK.

IT'S WIDER AT THE TOP THAN THE BOTTOM.

THEY'RE VERY RARE AFTER 1820, SO IT'S PROBABLY AN EARLY BARN.

>> OKAY.

>> IN FACT, A GREAT NUMBER OF THE THINGS I LOOK AT IN HERE RIGHT NOW TELL ME THAT THIS PORTION OF THIS BARN THAT WE'RE STANDING IN IS A BARN BUILT IN THE VERY FIRST PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT IN THIS AREA, 1790, 1810, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> WOW!

NOW, AS I'M LOOKING OVER BEYOND THESE 3 BAYS, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 3 BAYS IN HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE STRUCTURE OF THE CROSS TIES AND THE PLATE ALONG THE TOP IS DIFFERENT.

>> I KNOW I'M LOOKING AT AN ADDITION TO THIS BARN, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT IT.

THE POSTS AREN'T FLARED, THEY'RE UNIFORM IN SIZING; THEREFORE, THEY CAN PUT 2 TENONS AT THE TOP.

THE TIE BEAM, INSTEAD OF BEING LOCATED AT PLATE LEVEL, IS DROPPED.

IT'S THE DROP GIRT CONSIDERED AN AMERICAN FORM OF FRAMING.

CARO THOMPSON: IN THE ADDITION THERE ARE 2 BAYS WITH DROP TIE BEAMS: ONE IS AN AISLE FOR WAGONS AND THE OTHER FOR HAY STORAGE.

THE CLUE IS THIS BUILT-IN HAND OPERATED ELEVATOR INSTALLED SO THAT EVERY VERTICAL INCH COULD BE FILLED WITH FORKFULS OF LOOSE HAY.

>> AND I KNOW THIS FIRST BARN WAS ON A BASEMENT ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT IT HAD DOORS ON BOTH BACK AND FRONT ORIGINALLY, WHICH MEANT THAT YOU COULD DRIVE IN ONE SIDE.

>> AND YOU WOULD HAVE JUST DRIVEN RIGHT OUT?

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT HERE BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE A BIG DROP.

>> NO.

>> YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR.

>> THERE'S ACTUALLY A BASEMENT UNDER WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

THIS WAS A TYPICAL THING THAT WAS DONE.

YOU CAN GO BACK TO OLD EDUCATIONAL NEWSPAPERS FROM THE 1830s AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE MOVING OF BARNS.

>> MOVING BARNS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER WAS VERY COMMON.

ONCE THE THORP BARN HAD BEEN SETTLED ON ITS NEW BASEMENT, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CALLED A BANK BARN OR, AS IN THIS FARMING JOURNAL OF 1860, A SIDE HILL BARN.

WHATEVER THE NAME, IT REPRESENTS THE NEXT STEP IN OVERALL BARN DESIGN, DESIGN THAT, LIKE FARMING ITSELF, CONTINUED TO EVOLVE THROUGHOUT THE 19th CENTURY.

THIS BARN IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THAT.

PART OF THE THORP FAMILY FARM IN THE 19th CENTURY, MARINO SHEEP WERE RAISED HERE UNTIL IT WAS NO LONGER PROFITABLE.

THEY THEN TURNED TO RAISING CORN AND DAIRY COWS.

IN THE 20th CENTURY SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF THE ROBERTS FAMILY FARMED HERE, ADDING TO THE BARN AS THEY EXPANDED THEIR HERD, AND THAT'S ONLY PART OF WHAT'S EMBODIED IN THIS ONE STRUCTURE.

NOW PRESERVED AS A PUBLIC RECREATION AREA, A VOLUNTEER GROUP IN TOWN RAISED MONEY TO REBUILD THE FIELDSTONE FOUNDATION.

THEIR DREAM IS TO SOME DAY COMPLETELY RESTORE THE BARN SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN APPRECIATE FIRSTHAND THIS RICH ELEMENT OF THEIR HISTORY.

>> BARN PRESERVATION CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY IF A STRUCTURE'S BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY YEARS.

A LOT OF FOLKS JUST CAN'T KEEP THEM UP ON THEIR OWN WITH HEARTBREAKING RESULTS, BUT THERE IS SOME HELP AVAILABLE.

ERIC GILBERTSON MANAGES A VERMONT STATE GRANT PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED IN 1993.

>> IT'S A 50-50 MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM SO THAT THE GRANTEE SUPPLIES HALF THE MONEY AND WE SUPPLY HALF THE MONEY.

MOST OF THE GRANTS GO TO BARNS WITH PRETTY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, THAT KIND OF WORK THAT SERIOUSLY ENDANGERS THE FUTURE OF THE BARNS.

YOU HAVE TO DO A LITTLE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR BARN, YOU HAVE TO TELL WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BARN AND HOW YOU PROPOSE TO FIX IT AND HAVE SOME COST ESTIMATES AND SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BARN.

CARO THOMPSON: ONE GRANT WENT TO WHAT'S KNOWN LOCALLY IN BENSON AS THE KING FARM.

IT WAS A PROSPEROUS SHEEP FARM IN THE 19th CENTURY.

2 SIDE HILL ENGLISH-STYLE BARNS SIT RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF MUDDY HOLE ROAD.

THE NEAR BARN MUST HAVE BEEN MOVED HERE AT SOME POINT, AND THERE ARE 2 CLUES ON THE OUTSIDE: ONE, IT'S NOT AS TALL AS THE OTHER BARN AND, TWO, THERE'S A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE COLOR OF THE SLATE ROOFS, GREENER OVERALL ON THE LEFT BARN, A SIGN THEY WERE BUILT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THE KING FARM COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS BECAME A DAIRY OPERATION IN THE 20th CENTURY, BUT NOT MUCH CHANGED.

THE RELATIVELY NEW OWNER HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR PROPERTY WITH POTENTIAL ART STUDIO SPACE.

>> COMING FROM LIVING IN MANHATTAN AND SAN FRANCISCO WHERE SPACE WAS REALLY AT A PREMIUM AND HARD TO GET, IT WAS LIKE TOTAL SENSORY OVERLOAD FOR ME, SO THE PROSPECTS OF A 100-ACRE FARM WITH THESE INCREDIBLE SCULPTURAL STRUCTURES WAS REALLY EXCITING.

THE LARGER BARNS, THE OLD ENGLISH BARN AND THE CLUSTER OF LARGE BARNS RIGHT ON MUDDY HOLE ROAD WERE IN INCREDIBLY GREAT CONDITION.

THE SMALLER GROUPINGS OF BARNS WERE PRETTY MUCH FALLING OFF THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE LASTED 2 OR 3 MORE YEARS.

CARO THOMPSON: ALEX RECEIVED A STATE MATCHING GRANT TO SAVE THE GRAINERY.

>> IT WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OVER.

THE BIG ROCK PIERS HAD TO BE DUG OUT OF THE MUD.

>> GRAINERIES WERE BUILT ON PIERS SO THAT AIR COULD FLOW COMPLETELY AROUND THE BUILDINGS, KEEPING MOISTURE AT BAY.

SOME ALSO HAVE A SECTION FOR STORAGE OF CORN STILL ON THE COB.

YOU CAN OFTEN RECOGNIZE A CORNCRIB FROM THE OUTSIDE BY THE NOTCHES CUT THE LENGTH OF THE SHEATHING BOARDS, AGAIN, FOR AIR CIRCULATION.

MOLDY CORN'S NO GOOD AS ANIMAL FEED.

THE SILLS, FLOORING, AND ALL OF THE SHEATHING ON ONE END ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.

THE WORK WAS DONE BY A SPECIALIST IN PRESERVATION, JEREMIAH BEACH PARKER.

>> THE GRAINERY BUILDING AT ALEX BAKER'S FARM IS UNIQUE BECAUSE MOST OF THE PARTS AND PIECES WERE STILL INSIDE IT.

THE BINS WERE THERE.

THE BINS STILL HAD GRAIN IN THEM.

CARO THOMPSON: ALEX ISN'T JUST TAKING CARE OF THE BUILDINGS ON HIS PROPERTY, HE'S ALSO LEARNING ABOUT HOW THINGS USED TO BE DONE ON THE FARM.

>> THE BULK OF THE FEED GRAIN USED FOR THE SHEEP AND THE OTHER ANIMALS ON THE FARM WAS STORED FROM THIS LEVEL OF THE GRAINERY AND PLACED IN THIS LARGE BIN THAT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR WHERE THEY COULD RETRIEVE IT AS THEY NEEDED OVER THE YEAR.

THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS, THERE ARE SEVERAL DOORS ON THIS LEVEL OF THE GRAINERY THAT YOU COULD USE.

RAISE ANY ONE DOOR TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE GRAIN AND FEED YOUR ANIMALS.

THIS SERIES OF BARNS, AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AND THE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT MADE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WHERE IT'S GOING WILL BE LOST FOREVER IF THESE MONUMENTS TO THESE LIVES ARE LOST.

CARO THOMPSON: PREVENTING MOISTURE BUILDUP IS A SIMPLE BUT INVALUABLE WAY TO EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF WOODEN STRUCTURES.

TREES AND WEEDS GROWING TOO CLOSE PREVENT THE WIND AND SUN FROM KEEPING THE WOOD DRY.

WITH ALEX BAKER'S EFFORTS, ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE 19th CENTURY TRANSITION FROM COMMERCIAL SHEEP FARMING TO DAIRY IS BEING PRESERVED.

AT ONE TIME THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF SHELTERS FOR SHEEP BECAUSE IN 1840 VERMONT WAS HOME TO OVER 1.5 MILLION OF THEM, BUT BARNS LIKE THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY CONSTRUCTED FOR SHEEP AND STILL PRETTY MUCH AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT ARE THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE.

MOST WERE LATER ADAPTED FOR OTHER USES, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON WE DON'T SEE MANY SHEEP BARNS.

THIS IS A HARDY ANIMAL, AND MANY FARMERS SIMPLY ADDED SHEDS TO THE SIDES OF EXISTING BARNS TO HOUSE THEM.

IF SHEEP BARNS WERE AS EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS DAIRY BARNS ARE TODAY, THE INCREDIBLE HISTORY OF SHEEP FARMING WOULD BE MUCH MORE WIDELY KNOWN.

EVEN AFTER THE REGIONAL WOOL MARKET COLLAPSED, FARMERS FOUND PROSPERITY BY DEVELOPING STRONG BREEDING STOCK TO SELL, AND NOT JUST WHEN IT CAME TO SHEEP.

CARO THOMPSON: ONE EXAMPLE IS THE FACILITY THAT NOW HOUSES THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MORGAN HORSE FARM.

IT FUNCTIONS AS A BARN, BUT IN APPEARANCE IT'S A WORLD AWAY FROM THE ONES WE SEE MOST OFTEN.

THE FANCY FACADE IS TESTIMONY TO THE HIGH REGARD THAT MORGAN HORSES INSPIRED AND THE PROFITABILITY OF BREEDING BLUE RIBBON STOCK.

AS THE CENTURY WOUND DOWN, NEW MARKETS APPEARED FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS.

RAILROADS REACHED IN PREVIOUSLY ISOLATED AREAS AND TRANSPORTED CHEESE AND BUTTER FROM THE NORTH TO CITIES DOWN COUNTRY.

TO MEET THIS EXPANSION, THE 3 STORY BANK BARN CAME INTO BEING.

OMRI PARSONS IS A TEACHER WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY TAKING CARE OF THE 1880s BANK BARN THAT HE OWNS.

>> I BOUGHT THIS PLACE ABOUT 27 YEARS AGO.

THE FIRST THING THAT HAD TO BE DONE ON THE BARN WAS DO SOME CLEANING.

STUFF WAS THROWN IN THERE.

THINGS WERE BROKEN.

ALL THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN.

NO DOORS.

A LOT OF THE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS ON THE CUPOLA WERE MISSING.

WE REBUILT THEM, PUT THEM BACK ON.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A CLASSIC PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT'S UP THERE.

CARO THOMPSON: ART WITH A FUNCTION.

THE CUPOLAS PROVIDED VENTILATION FOR THE HAYMOW.

THE DRAMATIC DESIGN OF OMRI'S CUPOLA AS WELL AS OTHER DECORATIVE ELEMENTS ON HIS BARN REFLECT VICTORIAN ERA INTEREST AND EMBELLISHMENT AND A CHANGE IN THE WAY BARNS WERE SEEN, NOT JUST AS UTILITARIAN BUT AS A WORKPLACE WHERE PRIDE IN THE HERD AND PRIDE OF PLACE SHOWED THROUGH.

ANOTHER CHANGE IS THE DESIGN OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE UPPER LEVEL.

IT'S NOW ON THE GABLE END.

INSIDE ONE FINDS NOT JUST A HUGE HAYMOW BUT ALSO... >> THE INTERIOR SILO.

I KNOW WE SEE A LOT OF BARNS WITH EXTERIOR SILOS, THE ROUND ONES, BUT THIS HAD AN INTERIOR SILO WITH A DORMER.

CARO THOMPSON: A SQUARE INTERIOR SILO WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST VERTICAL METHOD OF STORING SILAGE.

OUTSIDE ON THE ROOF YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LARGE DORMER HAD BEEN.

A CONVEYOR WOULD HAVE CARRIED CHOPPED CORNSTALKS THROUGH THE WINDOW INTO THE SILO.

THE MIDDLE LEVEL HAS SOME INTERESTING FEATURES, TOO.

>> LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THIS BARN, YOU MIGHT EXPECT THE RAMP TO GO DIRECTLY ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE HAYMOW, BUT IT DOESN'T.

COME INSIDE AND I'LL SHOW YOU.

>> THIS IS THE BOTTOM STRUCTURAL PIECE OF THE HIGH DRIVE WHERE WAGONS COULD TAKE HAY UP INTO THE UPPER PART OF THE BARN.

THAT TANK IS THE OLD MILK COOLER THAT HAD A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF WATER GOING INTO IT TO KEEP THE CANS OF MILK COOL, AND THEN THE WATER FLOWED OUT THROUGH THE BACK PIPE INTO WHAT WOULD BE OUT HERE IS A TROUGH TO WATER THE COWS, AND THIS WAS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

CARO THOMPSON: THE STABLING AREA WAS ON THE MIDDLE LEVEL, TOO, WHERE GUTTERS BEHIND THE COWS COULD BE OPENED AND MANURE SHOVELED INTO A HOLDING AREA BELOW.

A LABOR SAVER FOR THE FARMER, BUT TOUGH ON THE BARN.

OVER THE YEARS MOISTURE IN THE MANURE LED TO ROT IN THE SILLS.

IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN BARNS WITH MANURE BASEMENTS.

>> WE HAD TO CRIB THE BARN ALL THE WAY DOWN IN 16-FOOT SPANS SO WE COULD GET THE MACHINES, AND BARS, AND CHAINS UNDERNEATH TO GET ALL THE ROCK OUT.

>> JOE CAME IN, DEALT WITH THE BEAM WORK, GOT THE BEAMS IN PLACE, AND THEN THE STONE GUYS CAME BACK IN AND REPOSITIONED ALL THE GRANITE THAT THEY HAD PULLED OUT OF THERE INITIALLY.

CARO THOMPSON: FOR THE FINAL LEVELING OF THESE MASSIVE GRANITE BLOCKS, TIMELESS TOOLS OF PRY BAR AND HAMMER ARE STILL THE BEST.

GAPS ARE FILLED IN WITH STONES.

NEW SHINGLES COMPLETE THE PROJECT, WHICH ISN'T JUST ABOUT STRUCTURAL STRENGTH, IT'S AN EXPRESSION OF ONE MAN'S LOVE FOR WHAT THE BARN REPRESENTS.

>> THE BARN IS IMPORTANT.

THE LIFESTYLES IN VERMONT OF THE PAST ARE IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, THAT WAS LIFE, THAT STRUCTURE OUT THERE.

CARO THOMPSON: 13 SURVIVORS OF A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO BARN DESIGN ARE LEFT IN VERMONT.

ALTHOUGH THE IDEA STARTED WITH ROUND BARNS, POLYGONAL OR MULTISIDED TYPES WERE ALSO DEVELOPED AND BECAME POPULAR HERE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 20th CENTURY.

A 10-SIDED BARN IN STRAFFORD IS THE ONLY ONE STILL BEING USED FOR MILKING BUILT IN DANIEL ROBINSON'S GRANDFATHER'S TIME.

>> NOW THEY SET UP A SAWMILL, SAWED OUT ALL THE LUMBER THEY NEEDED AND USED SOME BEAMS FROM AN OLD BARN THAT WAS HERE BEFORE THAT.

CARO THOMPSON: THE ROBINSONS MILK 30 HOLSTEIN COWS IN THE ORIGINAL GROUND FLOOR STABLE.

THIS BARN NEVER DID HAVE A MANURE BASEMENT.

>> HADDIE, COME ON.

COME ON, HADDIE.

IN.

CARO THOMPSON: WITH STANCHIONS IN A CIRCLE, FEWER STEPS ARE NEEDED TO GET FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER.

DURING OUR VISIT, I COULD SEE THAT OVER TIME THAT'S A LOT FEWER STEPS BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHORES THAT GO ALONG WITH MILKING.

THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN A FAMILY ENDEAVOR FOR GENERATIONS.

>> MY DAUGHTER HELPS.

SHE CAN MILK.

SHE DOES HELP MILK.

SHE HELPS DO ALL THE FIELD WORK.

MY WIFE FEEDS THE CALVES, HAYS THE COWS.

ONE OR THE OTHER IS IN THE BARN WHEN I'M IN THE BARN.

WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN SURVIVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO HIRE HELP AND WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE MORTGAGES ON EXPANSION, THAT TYPE OF THING.

CARO THOMPSON: EXPANSION ISN'T EASY IN A ROUND OR POLYGONAL BARN.

YOU CAN'T JUST ADD MORE LENGTH AS IN A RECTANGULAR BARN.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THERE AREN'T MANY LEFT.

THE THIRD STORY OF THE ROBINSON'S BARN IS REACHED BY A BRIDGE THAT REPRESENTS 2 DESIGN ELEMENTS IN BARN EVOLUTION, 2 THAT MAKE THE WORKPLACE MORE EFFICIENT.

THE BRIDGE LEADS TO A HIGH ROAD THAT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BARN.

HERE NO ONE EVER HAS TO DO THE PAINSTAKING JOB OF BACKING A WAGON OUT ONCE IT'S BEEN UNLOADED, AND THIS LEVEL IS HIGHER THAN THE FLOOR OF THE HAY BAYS.

THEY'RE BELOW ON THE SECOND LEVEL.

>> ONCE YOU'RE UP HERE, IT ALL GOES DOWN.

CARO THOMPSON: BRIDGES LEADING TO HAYMOWS ARE A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE WITH A BEAUTY ALL THEIR OWN.

ON A VISIT TO TUNBRIDGE, I FOUND THAT EUCLID FARNHAM'S DAIRY BARN HAS A GENUINE KING POST TRUSS COVERED BRIDGE BECAUSE ONCE IT WENT OVER A TOWN HIGHWAY.

>> IT LOOKS A LITTLE NARROW.

>> IT IS BECAUSE IN 1960 WE BUILT A NEW MILK HOUSE WHEN THE BULK TANKS CAME IN, AND SO WE HAD TO GO TO A SELECT BOARD MEETING AND THEY GAVE US PERMISSION TO ENCROACH INTO THE ROADWAY.

>> WAS IT BEING USED THEN?

>> NOT REALLY.

IT HADN'T BEEN USED MUCH SINCE THE 1940s AND WORLD WAR II.

>> SO WHICH PART OF THIS IS THE KING POST TRUSS?

>> THE KING POST TRUSS IS THIS TIMBER WHICH YOU SEE GOING UP TO THE POINT GOING DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THE BOTTOM TIMBER IS UNDER THE FLOOR.

THAT FORMS THE TRIANGLE, AND WHEN A VEHICLE OR ANY LOAD PASSES OVER IT, THIS ABSORBS ALL OF THE WEIGHT EQUALLY ON ALL 3 SIDES.

>> SO IT DISTRIBUTES IT MORE EVENLY?

>> DISTRIBUTES IT MUCH MORE EVENLY.

CARO THOMPSON: MOST BARN BRIDGES ARE SIMPLE STRINGERS, REALLY JUST HORIZONTAL TIMBERS SPANNING A GAP.

ALTHOUGH THE JOHN SMITH FARM IN NEWBURY ISN'T IN THE DAIRY BUSINESS ANYMORE, THE PASSAGE TO THE HAYMOW STILL GETS LOTS OF USE.

10 TO 15,000 BALES OF HAY PASS THROUGH IT EVERY SUMMER SOLD PRIMARILY AS FEED FOR HORSES.

FAILURE OF THE AGING BRIDGE WOULD HAVE ENDED AGRICULTURAL WORK HERE COMPLETELY.

>> THE SIDES WERE SPREADING OUT, AND THE ROOF WAS NOT GOOD, AND IT WAS GETTING WEAK.

CARO THOMPSON: THE STABLE HERE IS EMPTY, BUT BECAUSE OF MATCHING GRANT SUPPORT, THE BARN STILL SERVES AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION, AND THE HEALTHY STRUCTURE PROVIDES OVER A CENTURY OF CONTINUITY IN THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE.

A BRAND-NEW SHAPE WAS ADDED TO FARMS WHEN A CHANGE IN THE WAY SILAGE WAS STORED CAME ABOUT IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY: A TRANSITION TO EXTERIOR SILOS, WHICH WERE USUALLY ROUND.

>> I'M STILL USING ONE WOOD SILO THAT WAS PUT IN IN THE '50s.

>> AND HOW DO YOU GET THE SILAGE OUT?

>> I CLIMB UP WITH A FORK, AND I THROW IT OUT.

CARO THOMPSON: JUST AS IT WAS DONE IN THE INTERIOR SQUARE SILOS AND IN THIS INTERMEDIATE DESIGN MADE OF STACKED LUMBER WITH ANGLED-OFF CORNERS, THE FEWER CORNERS THERE ARE, THE LESS SPOILAGE OCCURS, SO THE ROUND SILO WAS SOON DEVELOPED.

SOME, LIKE THIS ONE, WERE HELD TOGETHER WITH WOODEN HOOPS, BUT IRON HOOPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE FOUND ON THE ONES STILL STANDING TODAY.

MAKING SILAGE REQUIRED A LOT OF MUSCLE POWER.

MECHANIZATION WAS NOT COMMON UNTIL WELL INTO THE 20th CENTURY.

>> YOU WENT ALONG WITH HAND SAWS OR SICKLES, AND YOU CUT THE CORN AND PUT IT IN BUNCHES.

>> BROUGHT IT TO A SILO WHERE YOU HAD A BLOWER WITH KNIVES IN IT THAT FED INTO IT AND IT CHOPPED UP THE CORN AND BLEW IT INTO THE SILO.

CARO THOMPSON: THE HIGH PROTEIN IN SILAGE INCREASES MILK PRODUCTION IN A HERD, AND ONCE REFRIGERATED RAILROAD CARS MADE SHIPPING FLUID MILK POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE MARKET FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS EXPANDED AGAIN.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU COULD GET MILK FROM 8:00 AT NIGHT IN BRANDON, VERMONT, TO BE DELIVERED IN THE MORNING IN NEW YORK CITY.

THE ANDREWS FARM IN RICHMOND REPRESENTS A RATHER TYPICAL SITUATION OF BARNS WHERE SEVERAL BARNS WERE PUT TOGETHER TO ADAPT TO NEW STYLE OF AGRICULTURE.

>> THEY BROUGHT THESE BARNS PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, AND THEN THE SIDE TOWARD RICHMOND THEY ADDED ON AND MADE IT THE WAY IT IS, A U-SHAPED BARN.

CARO THOMPSON: THE ANDREWS BARN IS NOW ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER, AND IT CONTINUES TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS.

THIS TIME, FOR A NONDAIRY DIVERSIFIED FARM.

>> THE BARN LAYOUT WORKS DIFFERENTLY THAN IT DID IN MY GRANDFATHER'S AND MY FATHER'S TIME, BUT IT STILL WORKS.

I CAME BACK TO THE FARM AND STARTED ISING SHEEP, AND CHICKENS, AND VEGETABLES, TRIED OUT THE STORE, AND THAT SEEMED TO WORK REALLY WELL.

>> WE HAVE A FRIEND WHO RAISES TURKEYS; HE HAS ABOUT 400 TURKEYS.

>> THE TURKEYS ARE IN THE AREA WHERE THE COWS WERE, IN THE STANCHION AREA.

WE TOOK OUT THE STANCHIONS AND PUT IN PENS SO THAT THEY CAN GET PLENTY OF LIGHT AND AIR.

WHEN THE TURKEYS ARE GONE, THE SHEEP COME INTO THE BARN.

CARO THOMPSON: INSIDE THE TOP OF A STACK OF HAY BALES PROVIDED A VIEW FULL OF CLUES TO THIS BARN'S EVOLUTION.

>> IT'S A BARN WITHIN A BARN.

IN FACT, IT'S 2 BARNS WITHIN A BARN.

THIS CORNER HERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE IF THE ROOF IS STILL ATTACHED.

>> THERE ARE SHINGLES.

>> THERE ARE SHINGLES.

>> THERE ARE SHINGLES ON THE INSIDE.

>> TAKE THEM OFF.

>> OKAY.

>> THEN ON THE NORTHERN CORNER THERE'S ANOTHER BARN, A SIMILAR SIZE, AN ENGLISH BARN, AND BETWEEN THEM THE CONNECTION WAS MADE IN 1917, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT 100 YEARS, MORE OR LESS, I GUESS.

>> AFTER THE FIRST, THE EARLY BARNS WERE BUILT.

>> YEAH.

AND THEN THE SHEATHING ON THE INSIDE IS DIFFERENT, TOO, IN THE 2 DATED SECTIONS.

THE NEWER SECTION IS A HORIZONTAL, NARROWER BOARD, AND THE OLD ENGLISH BARN IS A VERTICAL, SIGNIFICANTLY WIDER BOARD.

>> BUT IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE... >> IT'S CLAPBOARDS ALL AROUND.

>> IT'S CLAPBOARDS ALL AROUND.

IT LOOKS LIKE ONE BARN WAS BUILT THIS WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING SOME WORK THAT YOU HAD DONE THROUGH HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONEY.

WHAT DID YOU DO IN THIS BARN?

>> IN THIS SECTION A PURLIN SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED WHERE THE COLLAPSE WAS IMMINENT.

>> THE PURLIN IS THE BEAM ON THE RIGHT HALFWAY BETWEEN THE EAVES AND THE PEAK OF THE ROOF.

IT SUPPORTS THE RAFTERS ON THE NORTH FACE WHERE SNOW BUILDS UP IN THE WINTER.

THE SOUTH SIDE DOESN'T NEED EXTRA SUPPORT BECAUSE THE SUN TAKES CARE OF THE SNOW.

THE WEIGHT OF SNOW IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RISKS TO ANY BARN.

ANOTHER IS A LEAKY ROOF.

THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL FOR COVERING MOST TIMBER-FRAMED BARNS WAS WOODEN SHINGLES WHICH ARE OFTEN STILL THERE BUT ARE HIDDEN NOW UNDER METAL.

KEEPING ROOFING MATERIAL INTACT IS CRITICAL TO KEEPING TIMBER STRONG.

CONSISTENT WETNESS ULTIMATELY CAUSES ROTTEN WOOD AND STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS.

ANOTHER FREQUENT CULPRIT RESPONSIBLE FOR BARN DAMAGE IS AN OPEN HAY DOOR, AND HAY DOORS ARRIVED WITH THE INVENTION OF THE HAY FORK, AN INNOVATION THAT SAVED TIME AND EFFORT.

>> IT GRABS THE HAY.

WE PULL IT UP WITH A SYSTEM OF PULLEYS AND ROPES.

IT RUNS DOWN A TRACK IN THE BARN, AND YOU CAN PULL A TRIP ROPE AND DROP IT.

>> 3 OR 4 HAY FORK LOADS CAN PRETTY MUCH TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE LOAD.

CARO THOMPSON: IN THE FINAL DECADES OF THE 19th CENTURY, FARMING CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF A SURPRISING GROUP WHO WERE KNOWN AS GENTLEMEN FARMERS.

DR. SEWARD WEBB AND HIS WIFE, LILA VANDERBILT WEBB, HEIRS TO THE VANDERBILT FORTUNE, FOUNDED SHELBURNE FARMS AND BUILT A TOTAL OF 30 BUILDINGS IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY OF NORTHWESTERN VERMONT.

THIS MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE IS KNOWN AS THE FARM BARN.

I TALKED WITH ERICA DONNIS ABOUT ITS HISTORY.

>> WHEN WAS IT BUILT?

>> THE MAIN BLOCK WAS FINISHED IN 1888 AND THE WINGS WERE ADDED IN 1890.

THE FARM BARN WAS MEANT TO BE THE AGRICULTURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE HUB OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE WERE FARM OFFICES THERE, ALSO STABLES FOR ABOUT 30 WORK MULES, AND ALSO A SERIES OF SHOPS, A BLACKSMITH SHOP, CARPENTER SHOP, AND A PAINT SHOP.

CARO THOMPSON: THE HEYDAY OF THIS MODEL FARM ENDED IN THE 1920s, BUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE REGION LIVES ON IN THE FORM OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

ALTHOUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE HUB IS STILL IN THE FARM BARN, MUCH OF THE REST OF THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN ADAPTED FOR NEW USES.

>> THE BLACKSMITH SHOP IS NOW THE BAKERY.

THE MAIN SECTION OF THE BARN THAT HAD ONCE HOUSED THE WORK ANIMALS IS TODAY THE HOME FOR A SMALL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL AS WELL AS OUR CHEESE MAKING FACILITY.

THE CHEESE THAT WE MAKE AT SHELBURNE FARMS IS A FARMHOUSE CHEDDAR CHEESE, AND A FARMHOUSE CHEESE MEANS THAT IT'S MADE JUST FROM THE MILK THAT'S PRODUCED HERE ON THE FARM.

CARO THOMPSON: ANOTHER AREA IN THE NORTH WING HOUSES AN EDUCATION CENTER.

OVER 10,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN TAKE PART IN PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR.

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AREN'T JUST FOR KIDS.

WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE ALSO ON THE SCHEDULE.

>> PARTICIPANTS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ISSUES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, TO LAND CONSERVATION, TO RURAL LAND USE.

CARO THOMPSON: EXPLORING ISSUES AND IDEAS IS NOT NEW HERE.

DR. WEBB INVESTED IN AN EXPERIMENT THAT HE BELIEVED COULD IMPROVE A FOUR-LEGGED WORKER THAT FARMS RELIED ON HEAVILY.

>> HE IMPORTED HACKNEY HORSES FROM ENGLAND WITH THE HOPE THAT HE COULD ESTABLISH A BREEDING SERVICE.

CARO THOMPSON: AND THERE WAS A BARN SPECIALLY FOR THAT?

>> YES.

THE BREEDING BARN.

>> THIS RIDING AREA INSIDE THE BREEDING BARN IS 375 FEET LONG; THAT'S 75 FEET LONGER THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD.

ORIGINALLY, AT LEAST 80 BOX STALLS LINED THE OUTSIDE WALL, AND THE HAY WAS STORED RIGHT ABOVE THEM.

A VIEWING BALCONY WAS BUILT FOR THE COMFORT OF PROSPECTIVE BUYERS BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WEREN'T MANY BUYERS, AND ONLY 13 YEARS AFTER THE BARN WAS BUILT, MOST OF THE HORSES WERE SOLD.

IN THE 1960s THE PLACE WAS ADAPTED FOR STABLING COWS.

MOST OF THE STALLS WERE REMOVED AND CATTLE PENS BROUGHT IN.

EVEN WITH THE CHANGES, THIS BARN IS EXTRAORDINARY, AND IN 1996 MAJOR PRESERVATION WORK BEGAN.

THE FOUNDATION WAS STABILIZED WITH CEMENT, AND THE ROOF REQUIRED A WHOPPING 2 ACRES OF COPPER.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD THAT SHELBURNE FARMS WAS ESTABLISHED, ELMER DARLING, A WEALTHY NEW YORK CITY BUSINESSMAN, TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO BUILDING A PALATIAL RESIDENCE AND GOING INTO FARMING IN HIS HOMETOWN OF EAST BURKE.

THE DARLING FARM GREW TO ENCOMPASS THOUSANDS OF ACRES.

ALTHOUGH NO LONGER IN AGRICULTURE, MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE STILL INTACT AND THEIR HISTORY IS WELL APPRECIATED BY THE CURRENT OWNER.

>> NOW THE PROPERTY IS BEING USED AS AN INN AND AS A RESTAURANT.

THIS COMPLEX IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A VILLAGE OF BARNS.

EACH BARN IS PART OF AN INTEGRAL WHOLE, AND EACH IS IMPORTANT IN TELLING THE STORY OF ELMER DARLING'S LEGACY HERE.

AND LUCIUS WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE FARM.

THAT WAS ELMER'S BROTHER.

HIS SISTER LOUISE LIVED IN THE FARMHOUSE THAT WAS NEXT DOOR.

THE 3 OF THEM WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOURISHING OF THIS FARM.

CARO THOMPSON: AND FLOURISH IT DID.

AT A TIME WHEN 20 COWS WAS A GOOD-SIZED HERD, THE DARLING FARM WAS MILKING 59 JERSEYS, AND THE DAIRY BARN IS ENORMOUS.

JUST IMAGINE A TEAM OF HORSES BACKING A WAGON THE LENGTH OF THIS HIGH DRIVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS MEN TOSSED HAY INTO THE BAYS WHICH WERE NOT JUST ABOVE THE STABLING AREA AS WE'VE SEEN ELSEWHERE BUT ALSO ACROSS FROM IT.

OVERALL CAPACITY FOR HAY, 250 TONS.

THE COMFORT OF THE HIRED MEN WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION HERE.

THE MANURE BASEMENT IS RIGHT DOWN BELOW.

DAIRY WAS JUST PART OF THE OPERATION.

ONE BARN HOUSED PRIZE-WINNING MORGAN CARRIAGE HORSES.

>> THERE WERE CHESTER HOGS IN THE PIGGERY.

CARO THOMPSON: AND IN 1912, 14 WORK HORSES GOT A NEW HOME.

THE CURRENT RESIDENTS GIVE SLEIGH RIDES TO GUESTS IN THE WINTER, A TASTE OF DAYS LONG PAST.

>> ONE OF OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE IS TO HELP RE-ESTABLISH THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

THE FIRST STEP HERE IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAIRBANKS MUSEUM AND THE CREATION OF A SATELLITE MUSEUM THAT WOULD INTERPRET THRESHING.

>> I SEE QUITE A BIT OF NEW LUMBER IN HERE.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO REBUILD THE STRUCTURE?

>> WELL, THE BUILDING WAS IN DISREPAIR, AND THE ROOF HAD FALLEN IN, SO THE FIRST THING THAT HAD TO BE DONE WAS IT NEEDED TO BE DISMANTLED.

IT TOOK ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO REBUILD IT TO THE POINT THAT IT'S AT RIGHT NOW.

>> WHERE DID THE WOOD COME FROM?

>> THE WOOD CAME FROM OUR OWN PROPERTY, AND THE PORTABLE SAWMILL CAME IN AND CUT IT TO OUR SPECIFICATIONS.

CARO THOMPSON: THIS EARLY ENGLISH-STYLE BARN IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE MUCH LARGER STRUCTURE CALLED THE THRESHING BARN.

THE DARLING'S THRESHING MACHINE HASN'T MOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION IN A CONNECTOR THAT'S BETWEEN 2 MUCH OLDER BARNS.

THE SECOND ONE HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN ALTERED AND IT WAS FUN TO FIGURE OUT HOW.

FOR STARTERS, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A VERY EARLY ENGLISH BARN BECAUSE OF THE GUNSTOCK POSTS, WIDE AT THE TOP, NARROW AT THE BOTTOM.

AND HERE'S THE ORIGINAL SILL WITH THE POCKETS WHERE THE FLOOR JOISTS WOULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED INTO PLACE, BUT THIS WHOLE BARN HAS BEEN RAISED UP AND WHAT ONCE WAS AT THE BOTTOM LYING ON THE FOUNDATION IS NOW 6 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MASSIVE COMMITMENT TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN MOUNTAINVIEW FARM.

RECENTLY THE PIGGERY GOT A NEW ROOF.

TIME WILL TELL WHETHER OR NOT NEW USES WILL BE FOUND FOR IT, BUT EVEN IF IT STANDS EMPTY, THERE IS VALUE IN ITS VERY EXISTENCE HERE.

>> WHEN YOU SAVE AN IMPORTANT BARN, EVEN IF THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL REPLACED, YOU'RE SAVING THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LANDSCAPE AS A FARMING LANDSCAPE, AND YOU'RE SAVING ITS PLACE ON THAT LANDSCAPE.

CARO THOMPSON: THAT'S ALSO THE BELIEF OF VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE UP THE RICHMOND LAND TRUST, AND THEY HAVE TAKEN ON AN IMMENSE PROJECT TO PRESERVE 2 BARNS AND A PORTION OF THE LAND THAT SURROUNDS THEM.

>> WHERE THE BARNS SIT IS ON SOME OF THE BEST AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN THE STATE, AND THIS WAS RIGHT NESTLED IN THE HEART OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY SO IT'S A VERY INCREDIBLE RESOURCE THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN BOTH FROM ITS OPEN AND SCENIC VALUE BUT EVEN REALLY, ALTHOUGH IT'S IN CORN AND HAY AGRICULTURE NOW, TO KEEP IT IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND TO REALLY NOT LOSE THAT ASPECT OF OUR RURAL CHARACTER AND THAT VERY IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCE.

CARO THOMPSON: THIS STYLE, CALLED A MONITOR BARN, IS RARE IN MOST OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE FULL LENGTH MONITOR UP TOP, A CUPOLA RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BARN, PUTS LIGHT IN THE BARN UP HIGH.

IT HELPS WITH VENTILATION.

WHEN YOU STAND IN ONE OF THE MONITOR BARNS, IT IS LIKE STANDING IN A CATHEDRAL.

CARO THOMPSON: ALTHOUGH THE HAYMOW IS ASTONISHINGLY BIG, THE OVERALL FUNCTION IS SIMILAR TO OMRI PARSONS' GRAVITY FLOW BANK BARN.

HAY IS THROWN DOWN TO THE COW STABLES ON THE SECOND LEVEL, AND THE MANURE FALLS TO THE BASEMENT AT GROUND LEVEL.

KNOWN AS THE EAST BARN AND OWNED BY THE VERMONT FARM BUREAU, THIS STRUCTURE IS STABLE BUT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK AND IS NOT SAFE FOR CASUAL VISITORS.

THE WEST BARN WAS BUILT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, BUT THE SLATE INSTALLED ON THE ROOF WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY, IT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR DECADES, AND THE STRUCTURAL TIMBERS BEGAN TO FAIL.

>> WHEN WE STARTED THE BARN WAS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE, AND WHILE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING MONEY, WE COULD ALMOST WATCH IT PHYSICALLY DETERIORATING BEFORE OUR EYES.

CARO THOMPSON: IT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED, SO THE SOLUTION WAS TO FIRST DISMANTLE IT.

>> I TOOK 48,000 POUNDS OF SLATE OFF THE ROOF.

CARO THOMPSON: AND TO SAVE WHAT THEY COULD.

>> MAYBE 25% OF THE FRAME MEMBERS CAME OUT IN ONE PIECE, WERE STILL GOOD, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> WHAT WE'RE PRESERVING HERE IS NOT JUST MATERIALS, IT'S NOT JUST THE ORIGINAL WOOD, IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THIS BARN.

>> WE'LL COPY IT EXACTLY, PUT IT BACK UP AGAIN.

CARO THOMPSON: ONCE THIS CUPOLA GLORIOUSLY CROWNS THE WEST BARN AGAIN, THE PLAN IS TO CREATE NEW WORK SPACES INSIDE AND TO FIND LONG-TERM TENANTS.

>> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, IT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO US THAT USERS OF THE BARN AND THE LANDSCAPE WORK TOGETHER.

CARO THOMPSON: WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, A CENTURY-OLD LANDSCAPE WITH 2 MONITOR BARNS WILL BE RESTORED.

>> ALL RIGHT, KEEP COMING, PAUL.

CARO THOMPSON: THE LAST STOP ON OUR PRESERVATION TOUR BRINGS US BACK TO THE BEGINNING IN A WAY.

>> LET ME SLIDE THIS IN HERE.

CARO THOMPSON: RENEWING THE STRENGTH OF THIS LARGE 40X60 ENGLISH-STYLE BARN IS THE FIRST STEP IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR A FAMILY WHO, LIKE EARLY SETTLERS, WANT A GOOD BARN AND A PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN.

>> BRING THE JACK DOWN SLOWLY.

CARO THOMPSON: BUT THE STORY DOESN'T START HERE AT WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE LAJEUNESSE FARM; IT BEGINS WITH THE CURRENT OWNERS, CATLIN FOX AND ANNIE CLAGHORN WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR.

THEIR FAMILY OF 3 RUNS A 30 HEAD ORGANIC DAIRY BUSINESS.

AFTER ONE VERY DRY SUMMER THEY STARTED THINKING ABOUT BUYING THE LAJEUNESSE FARM WHICH WAS FOR SALE.

>> IN DROUGHTS YOU HAVE TO BUY FEED AND BUYING FEED IN A DROUGHT YEAR, IT CAN BE TOUGH ANYWAY.

BUYING ORGANIC FEED IN A DROUGHT YEAR CAN BE DOUBLY SO.

SO IT WAS A MATTER OF SECURITY.

WE FELT WE COULD USE SOME MORE LAND.

CARO THOMPSON: THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE EXPANSION WORK FINANCIALLY BY PRESERVING BOTH FARMS THROUGH THE VERMONT LAND TRUST AND BY RENTING WHAT THEY DON'T NEED OF THE LAJEUNESSE FARM TO DEB AND ANDY HOGAN.

A SOLID 1970s ERA GROUND STABLE MILKING BARN WILL HOUSE THEIR NEW HERD, BUT ADDITIONAL STORAGE FOR HAY IS NEEDED, SO THE OLD BARN IS BEING PUT BACK INTO WORKING ORDER, AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THE STRUCTURE DOWNSTAIRS CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF HAY UPSTAIRS.

>> THE OAK POSTS WE'RE INSTALLING IN THE BASEMENT ARE TAKING THE PLACE OF IRON COLUMNS THAT WERE PUT IN PROBABLY AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

CARO THOMPSON: WITHOUT EXISTING BARNS, PEOPLE LIKE THE HOGANS WOULDN'T DREAM OF STARTING THEIR OWN BRAND-NEW FARM BUSINESS.

THE EXPENSE WOULD BE WAY OUT OF REACH.

>> MOST CASES WE CAN RESTORE A BARN FOR LESS COST THAN BUILDING A NEW TWO-CAR GARAGE.

CARO THOMPSON: AND THAT'S JUST ONE MORE ITEM ON A LIST OF REASONS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO LET GO OF THESE PRACTICAL AND HISTORIC STRUCTURES.

>> THEY DON'T BUILD THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

IT'S KIND OF A TRADE SAYING, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

>> IF THE BARNS DISAPPEAR, THEN WE'LL LOSE ALL REFERENCE WE HAVE TO THE TECHNIQUES THAT WERE USED BY THE BARN BUILDERS TO ACTUALLY PUT THESE STRUCTURES TOGETHER.

>> BARNS REPRESENT A WONDERFUL INTERFACE BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE.

>> IN 50 YEARS SOMEBODY ELSE MAY COME UP WITH ANOTHER USE FOR THE BUILDING.

CARO THOMPSON: ANOTHER PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE ASKS THE QUESTION: WHAT DO WE LOSE WHEN BARNS DISAPPEAR?

A ROUND BARN ONCE STOOD ON THIS SITE, AND ALTHOUGH I LOOKED INTO IT, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHEN IT WAS BUILT OR WHEN IT CAME DOWN, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS GONE IN 1940 BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN WHOSE FAMILY OWNED THE PROPERTY THEN.

AS A CHILD, SHE CAME TO PLAY ON THE OLD CONCRETE FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING LEFT.

I GET AN EERIE FEELING WALKING IN THE SHADOW OF THESE WALLS.

WHERE COWS ONCE STOOD PATIENTLY AT MILKING TIME, TREES ARE NOW FIRMLY ROOTED IN PLACE.

AS THE FOREST RECLAIMS THIS SITE, IT ERASES ONE MORE VISUAL RECORD OF A SOCIETY WHERE EVEN IN TOWN A HOUSE AND A BARN WENT TOGETHER LIKE HOMEMADE BREAD AND BUTTER, A SOCIETY WHERE MOST PEOPLE SPOKE THE LANGUAGE OF BUTTERFAT AND CHEESE, HORSES AND HAY.

>> PEOPLE WHO BUILT THESE BARNS WERE THINKING IN THE LONG TERM, AND THAT'S A TYPE OF ATTITUDE I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE, TAKING THE IDEAS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE IN THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE.

CARO THOMPSON: WHAT WE DO TO MAINTAIN THE VISUAL, ARCHITECTURAL, AND CULTURAL LEGACY OF OUR FARMING HERITAGE WILL DETERMINE HOW WELL THE PAST IS CONNECTED TO THE FUTURE.

NOT JUST WHAT REMAINS, BUT THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF STRUCTURES LEFT INTACT WILL PROFOUNDLY AFFECT FUTURE GENERATIONS' ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND OUR JOURNEY FROM FOREST TO FARM LAND.

THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF THESE HUMBLE WORKPLACES WILL STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO OUR RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WHERE WE CAME FROM.

[ CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY GREEN MOUNTAIN CAPTIONERS, MORETOWN, VERMONT. ]

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT.