The Corn Crib Gazebo: Before and After



"The Corn Crib was once used for the storage of corn and other feed grains. In the 1930's, Mr. Magers had two buildings joined together to make one larger building. Constructed of cypress, it has a hip roof that is covered in shingles. The style is unusual for a farm building. It is in POOR REPAIR." . . from the National Register of Historic Places 2007


I wish I had a photo of the corn crib when we moved to the farm. . .The photo above shows it in excellent repair compared to what we found in 2005. . .The photos below are after much clean-up. . . .When a survey team arrived from the Department of Arkansas Heritage in Little Rock and went to work gathering information and photographs so that they could submit our farmstead to the National Register of Historic Places, they were amazed at the good shape most of the barns and larger buildings were in. . .Not so much the outbuildings. . .While they encouraged me to TRY to restore it, they knew it would take a lot of work and money to restore the Corn Crib. . .Unlike the image above taken ca 1960s, the poor building was in horrible shape. . .Floor fallen in from termites and rot, so treacherous it was unsafe to enter. . .No doors. . .Siding rotted and falling off. . .Few shingles left on the roof--only enough remnants to see that it was green at one time. . .Many of the joists had rotted. . .Trash and animal droppings scatter around. . .For all the negatives, the main structure of cypress including the rafters was still in fairly good condition. . .If we could get a roof on it, it might be saved.

 

 

I would never considered anything but restoration. . .I'd worked at Colonial Williamsburg long enough to know that any building could be brought back to life. . .There was another reason I wouldn't tear it down, though. . .It all goes back to the late 1950s-early 60s when I'd bike out to the farm (we lived 'in town') to be with Daddy who often had some project going on in the shop. . .At one time he was building a houseboat to put on Lake Norfolk for our summers. . .but that's another story I'll have to tell you later.

 

While Daddy worked, I'd roam around the barns and buildings making an adventure out of the day. . .I liked the big barn. . .the little barn was alright. . .but my favorite was the Corn Crib. . .By the time Mom and Daddy inherited the farm, there were no longer cattle or mules or horses or any animal except dogs, chickens, and a few barn cats. . .So Daddy used the building to store fertilizer and seed. . .The only time I could play in it was at the end of summer when it was empty until the next year.

I wasn't suppose to play there. . .chemicals and all. . .but I did. . .I pretended it was my little home. . .daydreamed of how I'd 'fix it up'. . .where the bed would go. . .and a rocker. . .and a table and chairs. . .I'd need a big wood stove to cook on. . .a cabinet top to make my pies. . .Daydreams. . .

Forgive me Daddy. . .but, every time I'd hear the shop door open, I would run or hide so you wouldn't catch me. . .How many years ago was that? And, I'm just now confessing. . .

 

Anyway. . .Let's just say I've been fond of the building for many years. . .The deterioration didn't concern me. . .I envisioned it as a place where we could relax with an iced tea in the afternoon. . .or fire up the grill and have our friends over. . .or spend a quiet Sunday there alone with a good book.

In a way, I suppose it is my playhouse still. . .just not the one I planned years ago. . .John and I both have added special touches making it everyone's favorite of all the twelve buildings. . .I picked the Victorian style screen doors. . .John constructed the cupola with the weathervane rooster. . .We  painted the gazebo exterior red with white trim to match the other buildings. . .I made certain a green roof went on top. . .The siding IS the original. . .all we could salvage. . .which is how we determined the area to be screened. . .We started adding back the reclaimed boards at the front and then the back. . .and used the remainder on the lower sides. . . .It was six years ago that we finished and have enjoyed it every since. . .By next Spring the old beauty will be due for a coat of paint. . .or not. . .part of her charm is the weathering of the cypress and paint.

 

You can see the interior photos at THE COUNTRY FARM HOME:

Inside the 1930s Corn Crib Gazebo

 

although here's a peek for you. . .Quite a difference, isn't it?

 

 

I'm so glad I never forgot those childhood daydreams and salvaged this building. .

.It's a fun place to relax and regroup. . .whatever the season. . .Yep. . .

LIFE IS GOOD here at the farm. . .

No complaints

 

 

Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign

Located at C. A. Smith's Grocery, Duncan Farmstead

Are you old enough to remember that song by the Five Man Electric Band? . .Well, I am. . .and for a month it has been playing over and over in my head. . . .every time I worked in the store. . .

 

"Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?"



Located at Duncan Farmstead



I never realized how many signs we have until I began taking Sneak Peek photos for you. . .I think Coca Cola signs are the most plentiful. . .but we have many others scattered around the farmstead. . .Some advertising. . .Some informative. . .Some just for fun. . .

 

 

(grin) . . .The funny thing about this sign is. . .we have no sidewalks. . .(chuckle--chuckle). . .A little humor never hurts anyone, does it?

 

Just popping in for a moment. . .I'm on my way back outside to add a few more signs. . .'sign, sign, everywhere a sign'. . .hmmm. . .hmmm. . .hmm, humm, humm. . .LIFE IS GOOD. . .

 



Inside the 1930s Corn Crib Gazebo

We're celebrating Fall in our Corn Crib "Gazebo". . .More inspirational photos at:

 

The Country Farm Home

 

Of course, the Corn Crib will be open for rest and relaxation--

and maybe a game of checkers--on our tours. . .

I'll show you the exterior of this popular farm building soon. . .

Have a wonderful Fall Day!

 

 



Happy Faces

It's Fall and that means Field Trips. . .We've been blessed hosting several local school groups who have come to visit the farmstead and to learn about their Delta history. . .I do have a confession about the photos, though. . .These were taken a couple of years ago--with the permission of the students. . .Honestly, I'm so busy during our tours that I forget to take current photos. . .But, I assure you that the smiling faces are very much a part of any of the school field trips. . . .These happy kids were from the Gosnell School District. . .I snapped these shots while they were having a picnic lunch. . . .We had toured them earlier and once the lunch was over, they were free to walk around and revisit the places that interested them. . .It was really a fun day for us all. . .and we are having more fun days this year. . .We have added stations to visit and to experience hands-on displays. . .The shotgun house is open. . .There is a lot more vintage farm equipment to see. . .The company store has changed inside. . .More 1930s games. . .and a story or two from John and myself. . .It's an act of love for our Delta history and hopefully each student leaves with a better understanding of life in the 1930s.

 

We've been so busy that I haven't had the time to post sneak peeks of the farmstead. . .but. . .this week I will be catching you up. . .There will be much activity here on the blog, as well as at the farm. . .It's Fall and an exciting time for us all.

 

See You at the Farm

 





Gladys Watson's Delta Folk Art

 I have often posted about the Folk Art of our local artist Gladys Watson of Monette, AR. . .Gladys left a legacy of artwork depicting the Delta farm life on anything she could get her hands on. . .Read her story and see how close she has come to documenting our own farm at:

 

FOLK ART PORTRAYS DELTA LIFE

 

The scenes she painted were once common to Northeast Arkansas but now are pretty much gone. . .Where tenant houses and barns once sat there's only miles and miles of farmland and crops. . .Farmers now work 18,000 acres with a crew of 8-10. . .The small farmers are gone. . .and with them went farm scenes such as in Gladys's paintings.

 

Many of us have a collection of her work. . .I rarely see it for sale anywhere. . .which is interesting since most of her work was done in the late 1980s-1990s and should be showing up at antique malls. . .Every now and then I hear from a fellow collector such as Becky Mojica who inherited this collection that I'm sharing with you from her Mom Mary Jo Edwards. . .She has several pieces that I don't have. . .proof that Gladys painted on anything. . .Thanks so much for sharing them Becky!

 

You'll be able to view a few pieces of Gladys Watson's Delta Folk Art on our farm tours. . .

Her work holds a prominent spot in our Company Store. . .along with vintage photos of our own tenant houses that once stood on the Magers-Duncan Farm. . . They too are gone now. . .only memories. . .so. . .come on. . .and. . .

 

MEET US AT THE FARM!

 

Experience life on a 1930s Delta Farmstead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From The Farmer's Daughter Collection