On the Road with The Six-Year-Old, Episode 4: How can you tell the difference between a decrepit old barn and a merely ramshackle one?
Although this incident was prompted by a barn in Pennsylvania, I was too in awe of the original decrepit old barn to actually snap a photo of it in time for this post. This classic example of a decrepit old barn comes from — where else? — Ohio. (Photo: Shala Howell)
While passing through Pennsylvania on our recent road trip, Mommyo, pointing: “Now that’s a decrepit old barn.”
The Six-Year-Old, enlightened: “Oh! So that’s what decrepit means!”
How can you tell the difference between a decrepit old barn and a ramshackle one?
Actually on our road trip, we saw quite a lot of decrepit old barns. Especially in Ohio, which clearly takes pride in the manner in which their decrepit old barns organically blend into the landscape.
After intense study of the decrepit old barn population between Chicago and Boston, I believe I can state with some authority that Ohio’s benign neglect of its decrepit old barns stands in stark contrast with the Amish areas of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Amish country contains relatively few decrepit barns.
So few, relatively speaking, that it makes me wonder if the Amish have an official policy on old barn maintenance. “Your decrepit old barn can have this many missing boards, but no more,” says the Ordnung of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. That sort of thing. (I know. Probably not. Most likely the lack of true decrepitude among the barn population in Pennsylvania has more to do with the fact that barn raisings are good fun.)
Ohio, meanwhile, follows the Organic Reclamation Policy. When the old barn’s done, build a new one next to it, and let time, gravity, vegetation, or the odd windstorm take the old barn down for you.
Take a look at a few pictures from our trip and you’ll see what I mean. Ohio has clearly cornered the market on decrepit old barns.
Pennsylvania
(Photo: Shala Howell)
(Photo: Shala Howell)
This one prompted a debate on the differences between decrepit and ramshackle. Which word would you use for it? (Photo: Shala Howell)
After intense debate, we decided that this one had merely fallen into a state of minor disrepair. (Photo: Shala Howell)
This one’s really not that bad either, considering. (Photo: Shala Howell)
Ohio
This seems to be standard practice in Ohio. When the old barn is too decrepit for use, build a new one next to it. (Photo: Shala Howell)
I just love the contrast between the neatly rolled bales of hay and the decrepit old barn in this one. (Photo: Shala Howell)
Another classic example of Ohio’s Organic Reclamation Policy. (Photo: Shala Howell)
At first I thought this was simply storm damage, but then I took a closer look at the two structures in the back, and realized this was actually Organic Reclamation in action. (Photo: Shala Howell)
This barn required a whole new category, as decrepit didn’t seem to quite cover it. We went with devastated. (Photo: Shala Howell)
Indiana
Nice try, Indiana. But I just drove through Ohio. (Photo: Shala Howell)
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