Barn Raising in Vaughan

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Home > Services > Vaughan Archives > Virtual Exhibits > Barn Raising in Vaughan

Barn Raising in Vaughan

Barn raising was a common activity in nineteenth century Vaughan. Most barns were raised from 1808-1830, though the practice did continue into the twentieth century. The largest group in Vaughan at the time was the Pennsylvania Germans, who had their own style of building barns. They were special as they had two square mows interlocked at the corners from ground to roof and a cantilever overhang was created when the large supporting timbers across the top extended nearly eight feet beyond one wall. The shape of these barns allowed them to hold more cattle than others, but were expensive to build; they cost four times more and needed a steady supply of pine logs.

Image of Rutherford barn raising, 1929. Before logs were put into place, they each were hand dressed and notched.