Now here's the rest of the story……..

Follow me if you will to a time, beginning about 1850 as western migration carried my ancestors in a northwesterly direction from Missouri to a homestead in Nebraska City, Nebraska, where the original farm is now the home of the School for the Visually Impaired.

The "barn" was a very substantial and very important part of pioneer's life and livelihood.    It was one of the first structures to be constructed at the site of the homestead.  It provided shelter for animals and foodstuffs while other facilities, such as the house or cabin was being built.  Why would that be surprising,  migration from the east was primarily from the European and Scandinavian countries.    In those days, many folks lived in the barn, above the animals, to not only provide security from predators, benefit from the warmth from the rising heat of the animals, but to also save on "shoe leather" while doing chores.  After all, if you suffered from insomnia, a warm cup of milk wasn't very far away, was it. 

Construction previous  to the late 1800's was primarily of the 'post and beam' nature, pinning the hand hewn timber members tightly together with hand formed wooden pegs, placed with the aid of a wooden mallet. An image of the post and beam construction, as well as a picture of an actual peg from northern Missouri follow.   

I feel that one of the most significant facets of the "barn" construction was that  architects, engineers, building inspectors or few financial institutions were involved.  It was experience, no I would rather think of it as a talent, passed from father to son, grandfather to uncle.  The blue prints were scratched on the back of a piece of wood.    It is almost impossible to believe, but Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck found anything that could be delivered by rail or wagon….. and made a dollar… could be sold,  hence the "barn" kit.

A few notables: 

The barn was a good reason for family and neighborhood gatherings at a Barn "raising".

Once the barn was complete, often there  was a celebration, including a Barn "dance".

In later years, daredevil pilots maneuvered their bi-wing planes into a Barn "storming".

An event that was considered to be outstanding, might be termed as a Barn  "burner".

Anything that was found to have reached it's normal life expectancy, would be parked "out behind the" Barn.

A young man's first "taste" or smoke might have occurred "out behind" that same barn also.

When a young couple desired some privacy, they may have found seclusion for a little barn "swooning".

Not only was it a place of safe storage for animals, hay and grains, but also the summer home of the barn "swallow".

Unbelievably, the "cupola" was not just to pretty up the structure or to house the pigeon family, it was to provide ventilation, exhausting moistures from damp hay that might cause another type of barn "burning".