John Shelton Barn

Address:

Levi Branch and Big Pine Road

Year Built: 1930s

Historic Owners: Major Marler, John Shelton

Description:

John Daniel Shelton, born July 1882, lived to be 99 years old. He spent much of his life in the Wilson Cove area of Big Pine where he built at least three other large log barns, on very steep land, which were likely flue-cured tobacco barns.  According to family history, Shelton always built his barns and farmed “by the signs.” This barn is an exceptional example of a round log bank barn using a massive rock retaining wall, saddle notches and the old tradition of continuing the log wall into the gable end. The near-perfectly round logs form a barn 26 feet square, and run 25 logs high, totaling  100 logs, plus 24 tapered logs in the gable ends. The family recalls that his daughter-in-law, Pearl, helped fell and drag the logs by horse team from many miles away on Doe Branch.  The barn is in very good condition considering it is over eighty years old and sits in a damp creek bottom. The old house also stood nearby until the new road was built.

Historic Use: burley tobacco

Type of Construction: Notched Logs

Siding Materials: Exposed logs

Roof Shape: Gable

Roofing Materials: 5-V metal and Unknown

Roof Framing: Purlin roof framing

Foundation: Dry-Laid Stone

Species of Wood: Various Other

Hinges: Commercial Metal

Fasteners: Wire nails

Additional Features:

The length of the roof is broken by another set of logs of deceasing lengths that mirror the end gable logs, to support the purlins.
This is a bank barn, but the bank was altered when the road was upgraded and no longer functions as a bank barn.

Outbuildings: There was a house approx. 80’ to the west.

NOTE: The information above is an abridged list. For the full unabridged list (complete details), please download the PDF of the Data Form above.