Address:
352 Northern Orchard Drive
Mars Hill NC 28754
Year Built: late 1880’s – early 1900’s
Historic Owners: Cline Shelton, Ernest English
Description:
Little information is known about this barn and land: family members still live on the land but have little knowledge of its early history. Cline Shelton bought this farm in 1951, likely from Andy Ingle whose grave is on the hill above. This farm is a high elevation farm at 3690 feet and is typical of the Upper Laurel valley in its small amounts of tillable land and rocky soil.
A few anecdotes were noted: a log house nearby was sold and the rocks from the chimney were used for the retaining wall on the bank side of the barn. The draft horse last remembered was called an Iron Gray, likely similar to a Belgian draft horse, and was used for logging. Mules and oxen were used there as well. An Ox yoke hangs on one wall.
The barn had cradles, mangers or hay racks of split wood stakes. This barn also has the 3-U metal roofing found in the Beech Glen township.
There is a unique square wooden chute to drop ears of corn to the stalls below.
Historic Use: livestock and hay barn; later used for burley tobacco
Type of Construction: Post and Beam, Timber Frame, Sawn lumber, Hewn Timbers, Notched Logs, and Stud Frame
Siding Materials: Milled Boards and Lattice
Roof Shape: Gable
Roofing Materials: Split wood Shingles
Roof Framing: Milled rafters
Foundation: Dry-Laid Stone and Wood sills on rock piers
Species of Wood: Chestnut and Various Other
Hinges: Commercial Metal and Rubber
Fasteners: Wire nails and Cut Nails
Additional Features:
interesting use of pieces of rubber tires for hinges.
lapped joints between large hewn timbers but no mortise and tenon apparent, but notched joints.
Large and long square hewn diagonal braces in both directions on the interior loft space.
Outbuildings: None remain
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.