Around an old barn

[farmerjon]

I have a barn that was built around 1860. It has 2 floors. the bottom floor has some stalls and gutters bult into it. The stalls where added to the barn, but there looks to be tracks from old stalls. The stanchens are still in There are some hay shoots. Here is my question. About half way down the side of the barn there is a bin that is filled from a peice of the floor that comes out on the 2nd floor. What was this used for? Now the 2nd floor has stalls built into the middle of the barn. on the outside of these stalls there is a small door that pushes open and is hinged on the top, What was that used for? I think it originaly went to the first floor. Also there is a small building next to the barn that has bars running the whole length of it. There is also a small trap door in the ceiling and on the outside a very small hole on eaither side on the peak. Any ideas on what this is? I love this barn and I would love to use it to its fullest potential. I like to think of how cool it would be to look back to the days when it was full of livestock. There are about 20 headllock on the stanchens. It most have been a sight to see

[PrairieFireFarm]

A couple of pictures would be real helpful.

[farmerjon]

I know. I will try to get some taken...

[Stephen in SOKY]

The building next to the barn with bars is likely a corn crib for ear corn. The bin next to the stalls is likely a grainery (Grain bin). We had a similar system in one barn where the second floor (Drive in) was where we kept well dried shell corn & sometimes wheat. When we wanted to fill the grain bin, we pulled out the trap door & pushed grain through with scoops or the FEL. The hammermill could be routed down the trap door for ground feed as well.

[Bearfootfarm]

Also there is a small building next to the barn that has bars running the whole length of it. There is also a small trap door in the ceiling and on the outside a very small hole on eaither side on the peak. Any ideas on what this is

?

If I'm picturing it correctly, it sounds like a smokehouse. The bars would be to hang the meat, and the holes are vents for the smoke, and the trapdoor could be adjusted to help control the temperature

Also a tobacco curing barn would have a similar design

[Stephen in SOKY]

I'm thinking the small doors at the top of the barred bldg. were for the elevator. I learned to back 4 wheel wagons by backing them up to grain elevators. At home, you generally only backed too far up about once, the repercussions of hitting the elevator were not pleasant.

[farmerjon]

I know my description is not the best, I think it was a smokehouse not that he says that it makes sense. There are large hooks hanging from the bars i originaly thought they where to hang pails on. So could i put corn in the drain bin? Thanks

[kruizeag]

I have to agree, the small building with bars is most likely a smoke house.

[Stephen in SOKY]

I'm sorry, I envisioned the horizontal "bars" that sided many corn cribs here. Generally 1X2 poplar set 1-2" apart allowing air circulation through the corn. Is the structure close to the house as well? Around here smokehouses were closer to the house and further from the barn and the vermin attracted thereto. Sounds like a cool place BTW.

[farmerjon]

Its right next to the barn. I wanted to get some pictures this weekend for you all to see, but I was sick...I hope to get some soon. It is really cool place. I love goving my boys a chance to grow up at a place like this