Old barns in Texas

There is a certain mystique about old barns in Texas. I suppose the same thing is true in other parts of the country as well, but having spent most of my life in the Lone Star State, and being a native Texan I can only speak for what I know.

Barns and agriculture

Here in the Republic State of Texas our past was tied to the production of the land, whether it was from the longhorn cattle who roamed the countryside, the native pecan trees growing in abundance, or the hard fought battle with the earth to produce a crop of grains and vegetables in the harsh environment that is Texas, Agriculture was the chief culture.

The animals required for such agricultural ventures had to be protected, fed, and cared for, and most of those activities required a barn. The produce of the ground required storage. Of course there were cattle, and to deal with and cattle required horses. Horses have always been important here, and having a place to keep them safe, and a place to store their feed and bedding materials required a barn.

Old barn materials

The first buildings constructed in any area and almost any time period other than the present are built with, and designed around the immediately available resources. It is the same with these old barns in Texas. The materials vary widely.

In the eastern portion of the state of Texas, timber was plentiful and the barns reflected this. In the rocky parts of the state, stone barns were the norm. In places where native clays were suitable, brick, clay stucco and adobe were the materials of choice. In the plains areas, there were shelters made of sod. There are vestiges of many of these types of barns still standing today, and they all have their own romance and mystery.

An old settlers proverb said to build your barn, and let your barn build your house. In the process, the barn served the functions of both a barn, and a home in many situations.

Old barns get a new lease on life

Today many of our old barns in Texas have been turned into homes. With a little creativity, and a lot of work these monuments to agriculture have been preserved in a new form and into a new future. Somehow that just seems like the right thing to do.