Address:
310 Bluff Mountain Road
Hot Springs NC 28743
Year Built: 1930s
Historic Owners: Danny Gillespie from 3/30/1888 to 12/1/1974
Description:
This livestock barn represents a typical chestnut log livestock barn built during the first quarter of the 20th century in the Spring Creek township. The log corner notching is the simpler saddle notch that requires less time and skill than the earlier half dovetail notch or V-notch, and represents the later generation of log building in Madison County. This barn includes some logs that have scarring from the chestnut blight disease, indicating that those trees were cut after the chestnut blight infected the chestnut trees of the region, around 1924. Typical of most early 20th century log barns, this one has been adapted for use in the air curing of burley tobacco which became the primary cash crop in the early 1920’s as flue-cured tobacco was being phased out. Many of the chestnut logs still have their original bark, a material that no longer exists and is the only example of mature chestnut bark that people of this era will ever see.
Historic Use: Burley tobacco
Type of Construction: Hewn Timbers and Notched Logs
Siding Materials: Milled Boards
Roof Shape: Gable
Roofing Materials: Split wood Shingles and 5-V metal
Roof Framing: Milled rafters
Foundation:
Species of Wood: Chestnut and Various Other
Hinges: Commercial Metal
Fasteners: Wire nails
Additional Features:
Outbuildings: None survived
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.