# Strange barn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794 "2008-05-02T19:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/1 "2008-05-02T19:04:24Z")
Remember the picture of the strange barn that got posted in GQ a while back? [Here’s another one](http://bp3.blogger.com/_wBMm0XSN9uk/SBrY5tadHTI/AAAAAAAADzc/po4NCFZvOlM/s1600-h/228251518_792b170449.jpg). I don’t think this one is photoshoped and I still don’t understand the purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/2 "2008-05-02T19:20:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/3 "2008-05-02T19:33:08Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/4 "2008-05-02T21:02:47Z")
That barn just had a few pieces out for repair. [Here’s](http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i315/lightingtool/?action=view¤t=Barn1.jpg) 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… ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/5 "2008-05-02T21:13:35Z")
[QUOTE=lightingtool] …I’m forcing myself to mess around with random pictures until I get better… [/QUOTE] and we hope you are better real soon, **lightingtool** … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/6 "2008-05-02T21:32:28Z")
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.](http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/pic/2005/april.asp#more) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/7 "2008-05-02T21:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] Remember the picture of the strange barn that got posted in GQ a while back? [/quote] Yes, very well. > [@](#): > > [Here’s another one](http://bp3.blogger.com/_wBMm0XSN9uk/SBrY5tadHTI/AAAAAAAADzc/po4NCFZvOlM/s1600-h/228251518_792b170449.jpg). I don’t think this one is photoshoped and I still don’t understand the purpose. When I was searching for possible explanations for the siberian (photoshopped) one, I came across this: [Cantilever Barns](http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=C027) The article contains a number of explanations as to why they were built like that. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/8 "2008-05-02T21:37:43Z")
I was thinking, either the cattle could come up under the eaves for shelter, or bales of hay could. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/9 "2008-05-02T23:17:36Z")
I was looking for better matches, because I knew I’d seen better matches. I gave up. Mangetout has it I think. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/10 "2008-05-03T01:14:48Z")
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](http://www.cadescove.net/auto_tour.html), two-thirds of the way down. Another one [here](http://www.karrweb.com/Cades%20Cove%20old%20barn.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/11 "2008-05-03T03:24:24Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] Remember the picture of the strange barn that got posted in GQ a while back? [Here’s another one](http://bp3.blogger.com/_wBMm0XSN9uk/SBrY5tadHTI/AAAAAAAADzc/po4NCFZvOlM/s1600-h/228251518_792b170449.jpg). I don’t think this one is photoshoped and I still don’t understand the purpose. [/QUOTE] Dear Og! The Amish have unleashed their AT-AT Walkers…! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/12 "2008-05-03T14:09:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] When I was searching for possible explanations for the siberian (photoshopped) one, I came across this: [Cantilever Barns](http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=C027) The article contains a number of explanations as to why they were built like that. [/QUOTE] 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] ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/13 "2008-05-03T23:31:11Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] I was thinking, either the cattle could come up under the eaves for shelter, or bales of hay could. [/QUOTE] You have walking bales of hay in Ontario ??? :dubious: One day I gotta come see this crazy place. Chicken and peanut butter! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/14 "2008-05-04T00:07:51Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] You have walking bales of hay in Ontario ??? :dubious: [/quote] 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. > [@NinetyWt](#): > > One day I gotta come see this crazy place. Chicken and peanut butter! 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! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-barn/447794/15 "2008-05-04T20:39:15Z")
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…