BARNYARD TALES: Stiles Ford Road barn is 100-plus years old

Nancy Bell Raine was born on a farm on Stiles Ford Road. Her father, George Bell, bought the farm from S.C. Cessna on April 2, 1909. It is now owned by Eugene Allen.

John Poteet

Old barn on Stiles Ford Road, Hodgenville

Nancy thinks the old barn that is still on the property was there when her father purchased the farm. If so, it is more than 100 years old.

The barn is somewhat unique because of the drive-in loft. Allen said, in years past, he has backed his wagon loaded with bales of hay into the loft. That beat hoisting the hay up to the loft with the wagon parked on the ground.

Inside, in the gear-feed room, is an underground basin, better known as a cistern. Rain water was channeled into this cistern.

When water was needed for animals confined to a stall, it was simply a matter of walking a few steps to the gear-feed room.  Water could be brought up by a hand pump and carried, a bucket at a time.

The barn is unused for the most part. But, it is a good example of the good labor-savings ideas that farmers (carpenters) used more than 100-years ago.