In the U.S., older barns were built from timbers hewn from trees on the farm and built as a log crib barn or timber frame, although stone barns were sometimes built in areas where stone was a cheaper building material. In the mid to late 19th century in the U.S. barn framing methods began to shift away from traditional timber framing to “truss framed” or “plank framed” buildings. Truss or plank framed barns reduced the number of timbers instead using dimensional lumber for the rafters, joists, and sometimes the trusses.
In central PA these are disappearing rather fast. I have been watching 3 barns in my area for several months now. When the conditions were just right for me to take the pictures that I wanted I had discovered that 2 of these 3 barns had just been demolished a few days prior to my planned photo. Needless to say I’m less than happy. But all things must change and so too will my plans for photographing old barns. I hope you enjoy this one. It is one of the last of a dying breed.