Butler Family Farms Barn
This large L-shaped barn was built in the early 1900s; however, the exact is unknown. The DeKalb County courthouse burned in the early to mid-1900s destroying many records.
The arching roof rafters were built on location. Stakes were driven into the ground in an arch to be used as a pattern guide for each rafter. The stakes held the boards in place while being nailed together to construct each rafter. As each rafter was completed, it was removed and another was constructed within the same pattern, thus maintaining a consistent end product. These complex rafters, visible from the inside, are extraordinary.
It is believed that this massive barn was originally built for an extensive dairy operation. Currently it is used for storage and is very well maintained.
The current owner has shared these interesting facts: It takes 55 gallons of white oil-based paint every five years to paint this barn. The lettering on the western face is 7 feet in height (shown in the painting). There is 10,000 square feet of roof over this beauty.
I completed a small plein air painting in November 2006. The colors reflected into the whites were extraordinary. The small painting was used as a reference for this larger studio oil painting, 24 x 36 inches, completed in 2007.
All the barn paintings are for sale. Please contact Gwen to find out if the painting(s) you are interested in are sold or available.
