The Barns of Maine: Our History, Our Stories

Don Perkins

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781614236870
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Although humble in their function, these carefully crafted barns have shaped the landscape of Maine for centuries.

Built long before the days of plastic and plywood, the barns have survived for generations, each with a story to tell. In Bridgton, one barn offered comfort to a 16 year-old boy when his father was injured; another New Gloucester barn was so important to one family that its likeness was engraved on their headstones. Some owners said they would rather see their homes burn than their barns, and others have dedicated their lives and countless funds to restoring and preserving these buildings. From modest English to grand Victorian, Don Perkins examines the structures, origins, and evolution of Maine's barns, demonstrating the vital and precious role they play in people's lives.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. Early Barns: Traditional Structures Before the Civil War
• 2. The Old Majestics: Big Haylofts and Fancy Cupolas
• 3. Our Barns: Assorted Barns, Assorted People
• 4. Up North and Down East: The Border Barns of Aroostook and Washington Counties
• 5. Surviving in the South: The Barns of York and Cumberland County Farmers
• 6. The Restorers: Resurrecting Our Barns
• Conclusion
• Glossary of Barn-Related Terms: What You Need to Know from A to Z
• Diagrams and Drawings: A Visual Perspective
• About the Author