OLD BUILDINGS OF ALABAMA - photographed by:WESLEY
& ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS
A. BARNS IN RURAL ALABAMA
Alabama is covered with a vast array of old standard
and unusual barns. These photos are from several trips around the state.
Growing up in the small city of Talladega and traveling the county with
my father I spent a lot of time playing in barns with friends as a child.
The shapes and functional designs create an asthetic of simple functional
form. The spirit of hard work is often graced with play and spirituality
of a day of rest. Playful and spiritual elements are sometimes used in
the practical buildings to give them more life and interest. Notice
the churchlike windows in the 7th photograph and the playful way the roof
runs on down in a playful yet practical way in the 21st & 22nd.
A subtlety to note is the change of pitch in serveral barns at the change
in story heights. The 5th illustrates a pitch change between interior
and exterior coverage. The 4th has a raised roof at the peak to help ventilate
the accumulated heat.
STRAIGHT BARNS
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OFFSET BARN ROOFS
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B. FARM HOUSES
Looking at these buildings I see simple functional design
solutions that are highly cost effective. The first farm house has
a porch surrounding it. In the hot rainy climate of the south a working
family often lived on the porch. Here the sun was shielded and the
breeze could be felt. Sitting in rocking chairs there people could
shuck corn, peel potatoes, snap beans, clean turnips, mend leather straps,
repair equipment, or just rest and chat. Long southern stories often
kept each other entertained, along with gossip, singing, and reading the
Bible. The second building is a simpler frame house with front porch
only. The third is a duplex, farm workers' house...later used perhaps
as rental. The 4th & 5th are similar standard farmhouses of the
early part of this century. The last is a nice country house around
Goodwater. I like it's porch, metal roof, and raised roof for upstairs
space and windows.
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C. OTHER FARM & RURAL BUILDINGS
The building in the 1st picture is an old rural voting
building. People lined up outside and stepped up on the front porch
in preparation for entering to vote. In rainy weather, after voting
they stepped out on the back porch and readjusted their rain gear before
hurrying back to their wagon, surrey, or horse. The last two buildings
in this row are thus far a mystery to me. I'm not sure what they
are exactly. Email me with any ideas. Next time I'm down that way
I may stop in and ask the folks living on this property.
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D. CHURCHES IN RURAL ALABAMA Alabama has a strong
religious and moral base. These beautiful buildings speak well of
the relaxed and simple faith and beauty that lives in the hearts of the
good people of this wonderful state.
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(c) copyright 1998 J.L.Wesley
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