Learn about historic barns at Garfield Farm Museum

If you want to learn more about historic barns, attend "Barns 101" and/or "Barns 201" at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road in Campton Hills. "Barns 201" requires having attended "Barns 101" previously.

The morning lecture, given by museum special projects manager Dave Bauer, will provide a general overview of historic barns. The afternoon lecture will cover more advanced topics and assumes "Barns 101" or equivalent knowledge.

This is the last generation that will have known barns as part of the rural landscape. With the changes in agriculture, most historic barns no longer meet the size needs of large machinery or large livestock herds on present day farms. As a result, forces of nature, consolidation of small farms into large farms, economics, and the passage of time are totally eliminating what was once such a dominant feature of the American countryside.

"Barns 101" will include discussions on basic barn terminology, the evolution of barn types, and the differences between modern and historic barns. The talk will also cover Garfield Farm's historic barns and how they fit in with Kane County's other historic rural structures.

"Barns 201" will include discussions on more advanced barn terminology including timber framing. The talk will also cover some specific barn trussing designs including Garfield Farm's 1906 dairy barn. Both lectures will conclude with an optional tour of the 1842 hay and grain barn currently undergoing restoration and the 1849 horse barn.

The lectures are $6 per person per lecture. Refreshments will be provided. Reservations can be made by contacting the museum at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org. Garfield Farm Museum is a 375-acre historically intact former 1840s prairie farmstead and teamster inn that volunteers and donors are preserving as an 1840s living history museum. The museum is five miles west of Geneva off Route 38 Garfield Road. Visit www.garfieldfarm.org.