Frank Cummings Farm Stilt Barn

This early 1900s hip-roofed barn is located in the Ohio River bottoms. On an Indiana map, the area where this barn is located is within a large curving bend of the Ohio River. The land mass resembles a thumb stretching south from Evansville. The whole area is subject to Ohio River floods, and potential flooding is an accepted way of life for those who live and farm here.

Livestock was kept in more traditional barns either on or atop the natural land ridges above the flood plain. It was too risky housing animals in the low flood-prone areas. Because of this, the barns in the river bottoms were used for grain. Often work horses and mules were housed and fed in the areas within the stilts. The animals could be moved out in a hurry as flood waters threatened.

The barn is cantilevered over sturdy concrete stilts. It is no longer in use for grain or work animals.

I completed a small plein air oil painting on location in April 2005. It was used as a reference for this larger studio oil painting, 24 x 36 inches, which was completed later that summer.

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.