ThE dIsApPeArInG AmErIcAn bArN
Nonprofi ts fi ght to
preserve heritage
barns from
destruction
BY RON BALDWIN
1046 Grand Avenue
Astoria, OR 97103
It is hot and dark except
for the narrow shafts of
light that shine between the
sideboards. The dust specks
glisten in the light as they
drift past. A lone fl y buzzes
it s twisted path between the
light shafts.
For a moment, maybe
two, time stands motionless.
The silence and suspense
are causing my 8 -year-old
heart to pound like a drum.
Then suddenly, without
warning, the Oyala boys
pounce on me like barn cats
on a mouse.
My hiding place has
been compromised. There’s
hay fl ying around in the
shadows and the sound of
giggling and hollering as
I chase them out the door.
Soon we’re all rolling in
the pasture grass guff aw-
ing and struggling to catch
our breaths. Now, I dis-
cover that they made a visit
to the manure pile outside
the back door before their
attack. I’m covered. And the
chase is on again.
In America, the barn is
an icon with few rivals.
Few Americans would fail
to recognize the red build-
ing with the white crisscross
doors. Even toddlers burble
out “moo-cow” at the sight.
Artists use the image to add
nostalgia to their works.
Story weavers cause their
characters to sleep, hideout,
work, love, play, teach and
ponder there.
When designing barns,
farmers in the new America
took inspiration from their
primarily British roots, but
other cultures such as Ger-
many and the Netherlands
added their infl uences as
well.
503-325-2280
See Page 5
ABOVE: Two farm buildings,
likely built 30 years apart.
RIGHT: An unaltered barn
near Woodson features
iconic crossbuck doors.
Photos by Ron Baldwin
The
Illahee
Apartments
Downtown Astoria’s
Most Respected
Apartment Complex
Since 1969.
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