Although planning has taken years, construction began in April 2009. Tom Pasternak (http://pasternakbuilt.com) was hired on as the general contractor, with Historic Housewrights (http://historichousewrights.com) crafting the post and beam reproductions. These contractors were flexible and helpful, and allowed Doug to contract directly with many of the subs.
The first step was to disassemble the two buildings on the east end of the barn complex in order to install a proper foundation and meet modern building requirements. These were used anciently as a carriage house and ox shed, with the top floor of the carriage house used as a seed loft for drying and storing seeds and onions.
The picture above shows the carriage house frame, the one at right, a section of the ox shed. These buildings were in bad shape. Tar paper had been put on top of ancient wood shingles that eventually cracked allowing water to seep through. There was also a valley between the main barn and the carriage house where snow and ice would collect during winter; alternate thawing and freezing spread the two buildings apart, opening cracks and allowing water to pour in every time it rained. Many of the timbers and boards were reclaimed for use in the rebuilt structures.
These ceiling boards were milled by the Robinson Lumber Company of Bloomfield from northern white pine trees grown on our property. Four windows were added on the north side (only part of one shown) to provide natural light for the artists.
Some of the posts were reclaimed from the ancient building. Other posts and beams were “hewed” by the owner, Douglas Buck, from dimensional limber, using an axe and draw knife. A modern shell was framed on the outside.
Several changes were made to the ox shed to meet building requirements for a public place, to provide light from windows on the north and east for artists, and to remove obstructions including support posts in the center and low tie beams. A foundation and wood floor have been added. The 8 x 8 inch posts in the exterior walls are placed in the same locations as the originals, as are all other beams and posts.
These are reused original timbers or hand hewed reproductions expertly mortised, joined and pegged by Historic Housewrights of Amston, Connecticut. The floor is made of reclaimed oak boards. The ceiling boards are milled from northern white pine. The visible rafters are rough sawn from our own Norway spruce trees, removed to make room for the parking lot. The ridge beam and cross beam holding up the roof are manufactured to meet modern safety standards. Invisible framing and insulation have been added in the walls and between the ceiling and roof. A crawl space, crisscrossed with wires and pipes including hot water tubing for radiant heat, lurks beneath. Reconstruction of the Carriage House and Ox Shed was completed 18 Feb 2011
