The Ultimate (Corn) Crib

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

Tucked away in the woods of Vermont is a beautiful hardwood timber frame, refinished from an original post and beam corn crib that was built in Ira, VT around 1800.

Corn Crib turned Hunting Camp!

To get up to the original old barn, we had to drive up the side of a very steep hill. We couldn’t have easily hauled these old beams out without the help of modern ingenuity.

Dan McKeen Moving the Timber Frame Beams

Transporting the Timber Frame

With its secluded setting and cozy living quarters, I like to call it the “corn crib honeymoon shack.” We built it for a newly married couple.

All hard wood, predominantly beech, I had the pleasure of raising these timbers anew about five years ago. Working side by side with Luke and Nathan – two young fellas who’ve got a knack for timber framing – we completed the project in about two months.

Green Mountain Timber Frames restoring a historic corn crib

Assembling the timber frame

What is this restored timber frame used for today?

Today, the restored frame stands tall, alongside another building called “Shotgun Pappy’s Shack. This spot is now a hunting camp, where men and women come out to shoot skeet.

Vermont Hunting Camp

Far away from large population centers, the restored frame and Pappy’s Shack are located in a spot perfect for shooting practice. And the addition of the restored corn crib allows the owners and their friends to stay overnight during bird hunting expeditions.

We built the restored corn crib in this spot to allow for overnights at the camp – a secluded getaway where the owners can enjoy the view. And I was thrilled when just last week, the folks called just to say they were up there and enjoying it. All these years later, and this fine frame is still hosting many a lively evening!.

Corn Cribs – for more than just corn!

In the early 19th Century, these early timber frame corn cribs had second floors which, to the best of my knowledge, were used as sleeping quarters. From clues found during the dismantling process, this particular frame, from Ira, VT, was definitely used to house the hired man.

Building the Timberframe Old Barn in Vermont

During construction

Later on, in New England and in the Midwest, these types of corn cribs were designed solely for storing corn. Where I grew up in the mid-west, my grandfather had a corn crib out in Wisconsin that was quite big compared to the early Vermont ones. But despite the larger size, those mid-western structures were used only for storage rather than housing.

While this frame is not for sale, I do have other beautiful timber frames for sale at my shop.

Please feel free to check out my old barns for sale! I’d love to give you the grand ol’ tour! You can see them on my website or in person!

Vermont Moose Near Corn Crib Post and Beam Property

EVERYONE is invited to see the frames!

The Timber Frame Gazebo

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

Existing Gazebo – Replicated in Vermont

What do you get when you mix a timber frame and a gazebo?

Around the turn of the century, architects and brothers, Charles and Henry Greene designed beautiful structures like this gazebo, using classic post and beam styling. The Greene brothers were active mostly in California, but they built houses across the country and studied architecture at MIT in Boston. To this day, they are recognized as some of the best representatives of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

Here at Green Mountain Timber Frames, I am currently working with clients who wanted to create a gazebo in Vermont based on pictures and measurements they had made from an existing Greene-styled structure in Rhode Island. To start the process, I called in James Platteter, an extraordinary period furniture maker – check out his web site. Jim provided the mechanical drawings for the structure the old fashioned way – with hand drawings, not a CAD program. Next, we ordered beautiful new timbers of white oak wood and began to shape and form them into the various segments needed to create the wooden gazebo.

White Oak Timbers
For Vermont Timber Frame Gazebo

Piecing Together the Gazebo

Working carefully, with attention to detail, we were able to accurately replicate the Greene brothers’ architectural style. We spent a collective 450 hours building and raising the American Arts and Crafts style frame. Our clients also chose to join the fun by taking part in the raising.

The Greene Brothers architectural style is notably influenced by a variety of cultures. Elements of Japanese, Chinese, Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts styles can be seen in their work. We tried to duplicate this eclectic style in the gazebo. We carefully chiseled the ends of the white oak timbers and the diagonal braces to replicate “floating clouds”. Using this hand chiseling technique, we gave the wooden pieces more shadow lines and rounded edges. This style creates a softness that is pleasing to the eye and works well in the design of this gazebo. Jim and I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity. Now that the frame is complete, we will finish the frames roof by applying red cedar shakes. A stone mason will also be working on the frame, wrapping the block foundation in field stone. When the gazebo is finished in the next week or so, we will be sure to post a picture!

At Green Mountain Timber Frames we do frame restoration, replicas of historical properties, new timber frame structures, and we also have old timber frames and barns for sale. If you would like to discuss a project or see one of the Vermont timber frames we have in stock, please do contact me. www.greenmountaintimberframes.com

Renovated Horse Barn – Middletown Springs, VT

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

Restored Timber Frame Barn

Built in the 1840s, this timber frame barn was formerly a summer kitchen and wood shed attached to a two-story colonial style house in Wells, Vermont.

I renovated it in 2003 for a horse farmer in our town and the barn is now home to several rescue horses.

I was so glad to be able to bring back life to this old wood shed and see that it is being used so well now.

One reason this project was special was that we did the barn raising with people – the old-fashioned way. We didn’t use a crane. 15 ladies and gentlemen helped to raise it all the way up to the roof boards in one day.

Old Fashioned Barn Raising

Too bad it’s so tasty, though! The horses love the old barn so much, they started chewing those beautiful timbers! The owner had to treat the timbers with a hot pepper product so the horses would stay clear.

Yummy Timbers!

Green Mountain Timber Frames Restored Barn

Interior of Horse Barn

If you would like to see some of the frames I have in stock or find out more about my current projects, please do reach out. I’m working to to find someone to love these old frames and all of the magical history they hold.

www.greenmountaintimberframes.com

Another Vermont Barn Worth Saving

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

Can you help me save this old barn from Ira Vermont?

Ira, Vermont Barn for Sale

In 1959, a Vermont farmer hung up the horse harnesses for the last time. One last time, he must have closed this barn door, never to go back in.

In 2013, his son decided it was time for the old barn to find a new owner – and a new beginning. And he contacted me.

Where is Ira, Vermont?

The town of Ira, Vermont is named after Ira Allen, brother of the famous Ethan Allen, who captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, with the Green Mountain Boys. Ira is located just north of my hometown Middletown Springs, Vermont. And this old post and beam barn was built back when the Allen brothers were roaming our area. Further additions were added in the late 1800’s to increase the size of this old timber frame barn to 32 feet wide by 87 feet long.

I’ve driven past this barn for 40 years and never knew its story. It is an honor when I get the opportunity to learn about a barn that is right here in my proverbial backyard.

I checked out this big, beautiful barn last month. It’s a special frame and I would love to help out the family and find it a new owner as quickly as possible. I’ve reached out to some former clients and am asking for your help too.

The original barn is a 32’x40’ hand hewn, modified gunstock frame with hardwood timbers and lovely wide plank siding and roof boards. With the modifications done to this historic property in the 19^th century, it’s much larger.

The original slate roof alone is worth 10 grand and is in great condition.

A real historic gold mine.

What is interesting about this barn is that it is still full of treasures from the past. Below are some pictures of what I found inside. When the seasoned farmer walked out in 1959, he left so much behind and much of it is well preserved.

There are several horse drawn equipment pieces. Planters, cultivators, harness equipment, hay conveyor, etc. The pieces may fit well with local museums showcasing the horse powered era.

Horse Tack

And check out this adorable corn crib that’s right out back of this barn!

There is even a little stairway inside the corncrib:

Folks can contact me if they are interested. I’m trying to sell for the owner. I can’t buy it at this time but want to help the son find a new owner.

If you would like to visit any of these barns – or learn more about all the details (I can always talk barn) please let me know. I’m trying to help out the owner and find someone to love these old frames and all of the magical history they hold. www.greenmountaintimberframes.com

New Old Barn in Vermont

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

As Vermont finally thaws out from a long, dreary mud season, I’m getting excited here exploring old barns and finding treasures. Spring is high season for a timber framer and I am counting the hours until Tuesday. I’ll be over at our friend Sissy’s erecting the Gunstock Timber Frame that I’ve been writing about of late.

Meanwhile, I’m getting calls about lots of timber frames homes and barns around and it seems I just don’t have enough time to check them all out.

It’s remarkable how many old barns and historic properties exist just within the area where I live.

Last week, I headed down to a property in Danby, VT to check out a Gambrel Roof style home that was built in the 1800s. Gambrel roofs originated in Europe, but the term gambrel is an American one. The older, European name was a “curb roof.” In the US, gambrel roofs are sometimes called Dutch gambrel. They can be identified by the double slope on each side of the roof. Gambrel roofs allow for more living space on the second floor than in a traditional roof slope.

Gambrel Style Roof in Danby, VT

This timber frame home measures 28×38 feet. It’s for a sure a diamond in the rough, but the gambrel lovers out there will love the gunstock posts. The house has got a hardwood frame, too, so it’s built to last.

On the same property is an old milk house, built around 1900. With some restoration, it could make a great small out building or garden shed.

Cutest little milkhouse

Another Gunstock Timber Frame Treasure

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

(or “Restoring This Frame Is Just Too Much Fun for a Timber Framer”)

I feel like a young fella who has discovered a buried treasure! After so many years of working with timber frames and old barns, the magic of each newly discovered frame never dies!

This past week, I got to work on an old Gunstock Timber Frame whose labeling system goes back to the 1500s and earlier. Now if we were in England, this might not be such a big deal. But we’re talking about a labeling technique that was brought across the Atlantic to rural Vermont – and this timber frame is a real, rare find in our community!

Here are a few photos that show the details of the beauty – the handicraft of an expert timber framer who lived in New England centuries ago.

Gunstock Timber Frame from 1500s

In the photo above, we can see the labeling technique of the old world joinery, brought to New England where it was used until the mid 1800s.

Below is an excerpt from Richard Harris’s book, “Discovering Timber-Framed Buildings.” which explains the old world joinery and labeling system. The first picture below shows the traditional lettering system used to label timber frames. The second picture shows a detail of the joinery that this original timber framer used.

Joinery Labeling System Timber Frame

And below we see the frame I worked on this past week – an up close photograph of the joinery on this beauty of a frame! This frame is classified as a Gunstock frame because the posts that hold it up are tapered from bottom to top in order to allow two timbers to join and overlap at the top of the post. The top plate timber – or rafter plate – will fill the gap on the right side on raising day.

Below is a picture showing the principal rafters of the frame.

Principal Rafters from Historic Timber Frame

Principal Rafters from Gunstock Frame

The girts – or long timbers – on this frame are made from Elm and Chestnut. The midbay timbers were originally 30 feet wide, but restoration allowed 25 feet. It was hard to tell what wood it was until the cutting, but the familiar pungent smell helped me recognize the Elm.

The Elm and Chestnut Girts span 25 feet

The picture below shows the gable (or end wall) section of the frame. Some new timbers have been added, and will age nicely over the next 200 years.

Gable of the Gunstock Timber Frame

This final picture shows the frame’s roof structure. We are assembling the original half of the roof frame before adjusting it to new dimensions.

Timber Frame Roof Structure

And here we have it – another piece of history uncovered. A fine example of “post medieval construction”, when buildings where built to last for centuries.

I have several restored old barn frames in stock and erected at my shop. You are invited to plan a visit to walk through them and get a feel for what they could become. See them online first: http://www.greenmountaintimberframes.com/#!available-frames/cqps

Why Buy an Old Barn?

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

The truth is – not everyone wants to live in an old barn. Vintage timber frame barn homes, like most historic properties, are for a certain kind of person. Having done this work for nearly 30 years, I’ve had the chance to meet all types of people who are interested in owning a barn home or transforming a historic timber frame into an office, studio or barn.

What my clients and colleagues share is an appreciation for history and for preserving the memories, the craftsmanship and the artistic talents of a former generation. Old barns exude a warmth and a feeling that just appeals to some people.

Over the years, I have built many new timber frames as well, and they, too, feel great. Owners love the vintage style and the look of the exposed post and beams.

But the old barn houses somehow remind the owners of times past – like you are suddenly a kid again visiting your grandparents or reliving a 4^th grade class trip when you were able to step back into history.

Perhaps it’s the timbers talking…

Historic Timber Frame Barn in New England

So why buy a historic barn?

You buy a historic barn because you want to preserve our New England heritage. Maybe you want to imagine what it was like in 1816 when Vermont had no summer, frost every month and you wondered if you would even have any crops left to put in the barn. Maybe you decided to move west after that year. Maybe you took your barn with you! Or left it behind, abandoned but not forgotten, for other poor souls hoping for a better growing season in 1817.

When you restore an old barn, you get to sit in a building that was standing while the United State of America fought Britain for its freedom. It was standing when Lincoln freed the slaves, when Lewis and Clark went canoeing, when Dickens had yet to gripe about Christmas.

And the trees themselves? Were they around before Columbus sailed and da Vinci was sketching out the Mona Lisa?

If you have a taste for history and antiques, on old barn home may be the perfect way to surround yourself with what you love. In an old barn, you can curl up at night under centuries-old timbers and listen to the stories they tell.

Timber Frame Barn from Colonial America

To see some of the timber frames I have available for restoration, please check out: timber frames for sale. http://www.greenmountaintimberframes.com/

Why Blog About Timber Frames?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

I worked on my first old barn in 1974. After 9 years as an apprentice, working on historic properties and antique barns, Green Mountain Timber Frames was incorporated. That was 30 years ago.

So why blog about it?

So often I am asked – why do I do what I do? Why have I dedicated my career to saving old barns and turning them into timber frame homes?

Every old barn I save is saving a piece of history. I get to share with each of my clients the process of saving and discovering a piece of American heritage, creating for them a historic property filled with magic and mystery.

Imagine living in a timber frame barn style home that was around before the United States was a country. Imagine sleeping beneath a roof of hand hewn beams that were carefully crafted over 200 years ago.

It seems each week, I get a call about old barns in need of salvation. This is the work I have been blessed to do in my life. And this blog is the place where I can share my passion for the history, the craftsmanship and the stories I uncover.

To see some of my available frames and completed projects, please visit www.greenmountaintimberframes.com.

Green Mountain Timber Frames

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Green Mountain Timber Frames

Specializing in Historic Properties, Barn Restoration, Reclaimed Wood, Post and Beam and Timber Frame Homes

Incorporated in 1983, Green Mountain Timber Frames has 30 years of experience locating, restoring and erecting timber frames and building post and beam homes.

A small, Vermont-based company, we are proud to take part in preserving the heritage of New England while incorporating current green and energy efficient practices. We specialize in restoring historic properties, old barns and hand-hewn timber frames, transforming them into beautiful, custom-designed homes, studios, additions and barns.

For more information, please visit our website: www.greenmountaintimberframes.com.

You can contact Green Mountain Timber Frames at:

Luke Larson
Luke@GreenMountainTimberFrames.com
19 North Street
Middletown Springs, VT 05757
802.774.8972

A Blog about Old Barns ~ from Green Mountain Timber Frames

Transforming Old Barns Into Beautiful Historic Properties

Category Archives: post and beam

The Ultimate (Corn) Crib

The Timber Frame Gazebo

Renovated Horse Barn – Middletown Springs, VT

Another Vermont Barn Worth Saving

Can you help me save this old barn from Ira Vermont?

New Old Barn in Vermont

Another Gunstock Timber Frame Treasure

(or “Restoring This Frame Is Just Too Much Fun for a Timber Framer”)

Why Buy an Old Barn?

Why Blog About Timber Frames?

Green Mountain Timber Frames

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Can you help me save this old barn from Ira Vermont?

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(or “Restoring This Frame Is Just Too Much Fun for a Timber Framer”)

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