Remember the picture of the strange barn that got posted in GQ a while back? Here’s another one. I don’t think this one is photoshoped and I still don’t understand the purpose.
The only thing I can think of is that the bottom end units are livestock pens and the top part is for hay storage. It would be a normal barn if the bottom was enclosed. Maybe it is left open for different means of access and maybe hygiene purposes. Enclosed animal waste can become nasty very quickly.
I can’t argue with Shagnasty, here. However, with the beautifully manicured lawn and the old-timey wagon in the middle of it, I wonder if it’s part of a show farm, to show how it was done “back then.”
That barn just had a few pieces out for repair. Here’s the final version.
Sorry about that. I’m still figuring out GIMP, and I’m forcing myself to mess around with random pictures until I get better…
and we hope you are better real soon, lightingtool… 
It’s not uncommon for older buildings to be built with an overhang. Doing so preserved the foundation wood, from water damage. On old barns they used straw and mud to fill in hollows between beams and the sides stayed relatively dry from the rain. Many of the older farm buildings were designed so livestock food could be dropped directly into the livestock area. It would help to know where the building is in general, so the ethnic groups that settled the area are known. This may also be a modified structure, which we don’t know. Here’s one example of a German immigrant barn.
Yes, very well.
When I was searching for possible explanations for the siberian (photoshopped) one, I came across this:
Cantilever Barns
The article contains a number of explanations as to why they were built like that.
I was thinking, either the cattle could come up under the eaves for shelter, or bales of hay could.
I was looking for better matches, because I knew I’d seen better matches. I gave up. Mangetout has it I think.
And following his link, I learn that this is a picture of the Cable Mill Barn at Cades Cove in the Great Smokies. Here’s another picture, two-thirds of the way down. Another one here.
Dear Og! The Amish have unleashed their AT-AT Walkers…!
Thanks for the link, very helpful.
[sup]And lightingtool, I would respond in kind but my new computer doesn’t have photoshop yet. So sad.[/sup]
You have walking bales of hay in Ontario ??? :dubious:
One day I gotta come see this crazy place. Chicken and peanut butter!
Hey, we get bored in the winter. When the only alternative is reading the French on packaging out loud as if it were English, or drawing on the walls, well, one just has to make do.
It would be an honour to show you around the place. RickQ and Brynda, among others, met us for a TronnaDope, and they [del]survived the experience[/del] had a great time!
Already answered in that article about cantilever barns - but I was going to comment that I remember a few barns in Illinois and in the humid months, they were deadly to walk into and I could imagine this being quite nice with a bit of a breeze to keep things dry and cooler…granted, a barn like that in Illinois in the winter might be a tad cold, but…