Old barns in TN (Norris: houses, buy, luxury)

[daniellefort]

While driving around through east TN, my husband and i noticed sooooo many run down barns that are barely standing on their legs. It seemed there was one run down barn for every 10 homes but i kind of liked it. It reminded me of the old days and how things were and really the untouched nature of it which is so hard to find anywhere nowadays. I was wondering if there was some kind of law that these historic things could not be taken down or if the people whose yard it was in just liked it or maybe it wasn't even on their property line. Just curious about it.

[mrs1885]

No law that I'm aware of. Homes are like that too. Tons of them from the late 1800's and early 1900's that have just been abandonded. My husband and I love them too and have books of pictures just from our area alone.

The houses just kill us. We have a bit less than 10 acres and would love to start moving them to our property and rehabbing them. Not to live in - just to preserve the history. There are some really amazing places around here!

[hiknapster]

You would like The Museum of Appalachia in Norris. The owner took really old log cabins and restored them. Cades Cove in the Great Smoky National Park is another great place to see homes and churches that sit on their original site, a must see!

[daniellefort]

Yes we took a drive through Cades Cove. It's just neat to be driving down an old country road and see these old barns everywhere.

[mbmouse]

I don't know of any law either. There are very few zoning laws in the areas where you see these old barns and houses. I know what you mean though. It is sad to see them neglected yet it adds such charm to the scenery in a way.

[MomsTn]

Originally Posted by daniellefort

While driving around through east TN, my husband and i noticed sooooo many run down barns that are barely standing on their legs. It seemed there was one run down barn for every 10 homes but i kind of liked it. It reminded me of the old days and how things were and really the untouched nature of it which is so hard to find anywhere nowadays.

It's a photographers paradise.
I love taking black and white shots, and adding in an infared lens for effect.

Get those shots before the barn falls down, you may not have a second chance.

[nalabama]

Yep, makes you want to cry. Old barns were pretty much just down-and-dirty timberframe houses built for livestock and farm equipment. We lost the skills (and the materials in large part) to maintain those old barns when the old growth timber started drying up and all the construction went to balloon framing and the platform framing you see in all the houses today. Pole barn and metal construction is much cheaper to manufacture and build, so that's what we end up with. There are books on barn repair and custom sawmills still exist that provide what they sometimes refer to as "farm lumber," but you've got to search them out if you want to do any serious rehab projects; otherwise, costs rise rapidly.

I've always believed that the South's mild climate contributes to the number of abandoned barns and equipment we see rotting away in the fields. They all deteriorate so slowly that we keep telling ourselves that we can just let it go another year--before long it's too late. The harsh winters up North don't allow you the luxury of postponing maintenance; a couple years is all it takes for buildings and equipment to be ruined by exposure to the elements.

[daniellefort]

Oh i agree with the harsh elements from the North to the South. I grew up in N.H. white mountains and everything deteriorated quickly due to the sand and salt on the roads and there are old buildings lying around up there to but not quite as many since the snow just weighs them down. You don't dare buy a new car and drive it in the winter time up there. I've been in FL 13 years now and it's the humidity and moisture that deteriorates thing if it passes getting destroyed by a hurricane. I'm just ready to see the 4 seasons again. N.H. is too cold and dreary to go all the way back so i figured going half way and still be near the mountains would be nice. I heard on the news the other day that northerners in FL are now being called half backers because they are not going all the way back north, they only go half way to the Carolina's or Tennessee now. I thought that was funny as that's what i'm going to be... a Half backer.

[hiknapster]

Yes, that is exactly what they call us!

[mrs1885]

How funny. I'd not heard that term. Well, I'm not one. Was born in very southern Florida. Moved to TN. Thrilled to be here. I dont' think I'm tough enough to take a northern winter!!