Tom Brown Barn

Address:

6378 US Highway 23

Year Built: 1880-1900

Historic Owners: Tom Brown; Fred Ledford

Description:

The Tom Brown barn is also known by an earlier owner’s name, O. B. Holcombe, who built and lived in the smaller single story rear section of the house. The farmstead was purchased by Tom Brown in 1892, and he had the large, ornately decorated two story section of the house built in 1894, reportedly by Lee Carter, likely with the help of Joe Carter and Melvin Metcalf. The barn has features of a late 19th century barn yet without the log crib base. It appears to be a transitional form that was evolving away from the hewn log tradition, as sawn lumber became more available or affordable for the owner. The road in front of this property was upgraded to become US 23 in 1937, and provided a major route across the mountains to Tennessee.
This barn was altered with vertical and horizontal tier poles to adapt it for hanging burley tobacco. The tier poles have since been removed to allow the loft to return to hay storage as it was originally intended. Outbuildings include the concrete foundation of a silo, which was likely wood, a large rock foundation that was likely a granary, and a corn crib.

Historic Use: livestock, general purpose, burley tobacco

Type of Construction: Post and Beam, Sawn lumber, 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

Species of Wood: Chestnut

Hinges: Commercial Metal

Fasteners: Wire nails

Additional Features:

Outbuildings: silo, and the stone foundation of a grainery or canning house, and a ruined corn crib.

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