Tommy Allen Barn

Address:

437 John Allen Lane, Mars Hill NC 28754

Year Built: late 1800s, early 1900s

Historic Owners: Curtis Buckner & Tommy Allen

Description:

Thomas Allen likely built his house in the 1880’s; the barn appears to have been built later, perhaps in the early 1900’s. It would have replaced a log crib barn. This barn represents the transition from log crib livestock barns to fully wood-framed barns. It retains the classic features of lattice siding on the hay loft level, for good ventilation, and the lapped wood siding in the gable ends. A shed roof addition was later added for burley tobacco, and a deck structure for loading hay and shelter. The farm also includes many outbuildings: a springhouse, sorghum cane cooker, corn crib, can house, carriage house, and other barns. The rolling fields of this farm are part of an original landholding of 200 acres that was acquired as an early speculative development in the 1830’s, obtained by Gabriel Keith and John Allen. Much of that original land remains in the Allen family today. Keith and Allen migrated from Philadelphia by way of Roanoke, Virginia, as land speculators, a common business practice of the early development period in the region. An original log house built in 1855 still stands on the property. Descendants of Allen and Keith include Colonel Lawrence Allen and Lt. James Keith, commanding Confederate officers in the infamous Shelton Laurel Massacre of 1863. Thomas Allen also served in the Confederate army as a Lieutenant.

Historic Use: livestock

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

Siding Materials: Milled Boards and Lattice

Roof Shape:

Roofing Materials: Split wood Shingles

Roof Framing: Milled rafters

Foundation: Dry-Laid Stone and Wood sills on rock piers

Species of Wood: Various Other

Hinges: Commercial Metal

Fasteners: Wire nails

Additional Features:

lattice across top of stall walls onto hallway

Outbuildings: corn crib, other barns, sorghum molasses cane cooker shed

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