Stone Barn Book Highlights Historic Structures

Stone Barn Book Highlights Historic Structures Dr. Robert Kroeger of Cincinnati, Ohio, has published an illustrated guide to stone barns located east of the Mississippi. “Stone barns represent less than 1% of all old barns in the country and, as such, are extremely rare,” says Kroeger. “Many of them are artistic masterpieces, reflecting the work of a master stonemason.” Kroeger’s writing career began in the mid-1980s, when an editor encouraged him to write a book on dentistry. Since then, he’s covered numerous topics, including several books on disappearing Americana. “My goal is to preserve history via the old barn and its architecture and stories, which often disappear when the barn is dismantled,” Kroeger says. “Stories, more so than the actual barn, are my inspiration.” According to Kroeger, over 95% of historic barns are made of wood, making stone barns both rare and unique. This raises questions about building preferences, especially given that trees were abundant and sawmills were prevalent in the 19th century, when stone barns were constructed. Pennsylvania’s 1798 direct tax record listed 1,829 stone barns, accounting for 20% of barns in the region. Thousands still exist there today. In “Stone Barns of America: Historic Icons East of the Mississippi,” Kroeger delves into their colorful stories—from a barn built in the early 1900s to promote Sears agricultural products to an advertising barn in Maine and a stone barn complex built by the Vanderbilts in Vermont. Each story and painting has a title: “Seventeen Children,” “Patriotism Personified,” “Cryptic Coggins,” “The Rubber King of Bristol,” and “Hands to Work…Hearts to God” are a few examples. He found a stone barn complex in Charlevoix, Mich., the most fascinating. “The barn was built during the WWI era and blessed with a marvelous yet poignant story. It had deteriorated but was recently restored by a generous history lover, to the tune of $18 million.” Unlike his other projects, Kroeger didn’t have a database to consult for “Stone Barns of America.” Instead, he had to explore each state through Google searches, state historical societies, and state preservation offices. The stories range from 18th-century colonial America through the Gilded Age of the late 1800s. Of the 46 barns he features in this volume, 30 are on the National Register, and three are National Landmarks.  Other published titles include “Historic Barns of Ohio,” a book featuring a barn from each of Ohio’s 88 counties, along with a painting and an essay; two books on dentistry; and seven books on golf in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. Kroeger’s book on stone barns west of the Mississippi is expected in 2027. He believes there are more stories to tell. “Take a drive on the rural roads of America, especially in the Midwest, and you’ll see many old barns on the verge of collapse. As they vanish, so do their stories. So many barns … so little time.” “Stone Barns of America: Historic Icons East of the Mississippi” is $39.95 and available from publisher Acclaim Press, online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and independent booksellers. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dr. Robert Kroeger (www.barnart.weebly.com; Facebook: The Historic Barn Project).

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