Address:

9131 NC Highway 212, Marshall, NC

Year Built: 1951

Historic Owners: Delbert Shelton, heirs of, and Maurice and Paula Shelton McAllister

Description:

In 1950 Delbert Shelton saw a barn in east Tennessee that he admired and recruited his brother Charlie and nephew Winfred to help him build one like it. They made many trips back to Tennessee to note the details. This example is the barn that became the iconic 20th century American classic with the gambrel roof and red paint. Unlike most barns in Madison County, the loft was never adapted to hang burley tobacco. The hay loft and roof are uncommon local examples of a structure with no interior posts, using free-standing shallow roof trusses allowing for a larger, open loft. The rail-mounted hay fork and pulley system remain, but became obsolete when baled hay replaced loose-stacked hay. The barn is a classic livestock gambrel roof barn with self-supporting roof structure of shallow trusses, allowing for a large unobstructed hay loft and using a rail-mounted hay fork and pulley system.
Delbert Shelton – Born: November 29, 1902; Died: September 27, 1964
Buried in the Aikens-Shelton Cemetery on Cutshall Town Rd.

Historic Use: Livestock and General Purpose. Never used for tobacco

Type of Construction: Post and Beam, Sawn lumber, and Stud Frame

Siding Materials: Milled Boards

Roof Shape: Gambrel

Roofing Materials: 5-V metal

Roof Framing: Gambrel shallow trusses

Foundation: Concrete

Species of Wood: Chestnut and Various Other

Hinges: Commercial Metal

Fasteners: Wire nails

Additional Features:

hay fork and trolley lift, hay fork on site.

Outbuildings: corn crib, other small buildings on side of road at house


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.

Delbert Shelton Barn