Address:
between 111 & 245 Hickory Dr.
Year Built: 1930s
Historic Owners: Alfred Huff
Description:
This historic farm is in the rolling hills on the edge of Mars Hill, next to residential areas and the Mars Hill University campus. The farm has been in the ownership of the Carter and Huff family for six generations. Edward Carter donated the four acres on which Mars Hill College was founded in 1856. Ownership originated in a deed from his father Daniel, in 1815, for land totaling over 660 acres. Many Huff family members held leadership roles in the college. Family oral tradition includes a common story about a mountain lion, or panther, once seen in the big oak tree nearby, next to the road up the hill.
Likely built in the 1930’s as burley tobacco grew in popularity, this barn reflects the transition from old log barns and livestock barn lofts for air-curing burley tobacco. The sawn 2 x 6 lumber stud framing was carefully planned to accommodate the four-foot spacing of horizontal tier poles. This is also a bank barn with the embankment being held back by a thick concrete wall. This concrete wall provided part of an enclosure for a tobacco casing room, which needed to be kept cool and damp for handling the delicate tobacco leaves after curing. A large addition was built later on the back of the main barn, for hanging burley tobacco.
Historic Use: livestock and burley tobacco
Type of Construction: Post and Beam, Sawn lumber, and Stud Frame
Siding Materials: Milled Boards
Roof Shape: Gable
Roofing Materials: 5-V metal
Roof Framing: Milled rafters
Foundation: Dry-Laid Stone, Wood sills on rock piers, and Concrete
Species of Wood: Chestnut and Various Other
Hinges: Commercial Metal
Fasteners: Wire nails
Additional Features:
A casing room built into stall level, may or may not be original
Outbuildings: concrete block building built into bank, may be a casing house, wood frame second floor, typical of many outbuildings used for casing house, can house, shop, tool shed, etc
NOTE: The information above is an abridged list. For the full unabridged list (complete details), please download the PDF of the Data Form above.
NOTE: These photographs are meant to illustrate various features and construction elements of this barn.