Woods Ammons Barn #2

Address:

1889 Lower Gabriels Crk Rd, Mars Hill NC 28754

Year Built: mid 1940s

Historic Owners: Woods Ammons, Roy Ammons, son

Description:

These barns are situated at the lower end of the valley of Gabriel’s Creek on what was once part of a much larger farm. They were built at the close of WWII when many men were returning from the war and the burley tobacco market was growing. Woods Ammons was one of the largest growers of burley tobacco in eastern Madison County and was known for his use of up-to-date farming practices, including better ventilation by way of the monitor roof and window vent shutters. His two monitor roof barns were well constructed and maintained, using oak boards and timbers throughout. These barns represent the best of the tobacco barns that supported the growing burley industry in the latter half of the 20th century.
Woods Ammons monitor roof burley tobacco barn
The second barn is a standard burley tobacco pole barn, but with a monitor roof for increased ventilation for the air-cured tobacco. As found in the Samuel Moore barn, the monitor roof creates a “chimney effect”, naturally drawing air from below and up through the roof ridge vent structure. Adequate air flow was necessary for the proper curing of the tobacco, and to reduce the unwanted growing of mold.

Historic Use: burley tobacco and equipment storage

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

Siding Materials: Milled Boards

Roof Shape: Monitor

Roofing Materials: 5-V metal

Roof Framing: Milled rafters

Foundation: Concrete

Species of Wood: Various Other

Hinges: Commercial Metal

Fasteners: Wire nails

Additional Features:

not traditional but interior loft posts have U-brackets that are assumed to be for supporting temporary lower tier poles.

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.