Swiss Heritage Museum Barn
In 1993 this Sweitzer-style barn was slowly and carefully moved from its original location to a new location in Swiss Heritage Village and although the original construction date for this barn is not known, estimations place it in the late 1800s.
The barn has a cantilevered lower level, often called a forebay, which served as a protective overhang for the animals on the lower stable side of the barn. The main entrance is accessible via an earthen ramp. Three dry cellars partially sunk into the hill flank the entrance ramp.
The upper portion of the barn was used to store hay and grain. Multiple louvered vents strategically placed on both sides and on each gable end kept the hay and grain dry. This beautiful example of a Sweitzer barn is a hand-hewn and pegged timber-frame beauty still very sturdy at its age, even after a perilous relocation.
It was a hot August day in 2009 when I set up to capture the afternoon light on the west side of the barn. The subtle variations in the reds were a challenge I enjoyed. The reflected light in the shadows intensified the red hues. The oil painting is 18 x 36 inches.
Five lightning rods, each with a cobalt blue glass globe are evenly spaced upon the roof ridge. This one is dressed with a fancy horse wind vane.
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.
