Monday, October 15, 2012

Lightening Rods

It has been awhile since I have seen lightening rods on a barn. 

Shirley's Barn

 

This big beautiful old barn has three lightening rods and two cupolas.Lightening Rod

If you were a farmer, those lightening rods could save your barn from a lightening strike that could cause a fire in your hay mow.  The glass balls would break if the building was hit by lightening.  The lightening would be directed downward following a wire into the ground and the barn would be saved.

IMG_2216

Years ago when many people lived on farms, this was one way that they could protect their animals and hay crop..without the barn and its full hay mow..they had nothing and no way to eke out a living.

Not too many barns around these parts anymore..one by one they are falling down.  They are expensive to maintain and repair.  I will take their photos while I can:)

Blog Signature

23 comments:

Gail said...

Beautiful barn. I would give my eye tooth to have one that wonderful.

thecrazysheeplady said...

We have lighting rods, but nothing cool with glass. Neat!

linda m said...

I would love to have an old barn like that. Probably couldn't afford to maintain it but it sure does look cool. Have a great day.

DJan said...

I should pay attention to the barns I pass in fields on my way to the High Country. I wonder if they have lightning rods. Interesting!

Lanny said...

I get so sad when I see dilapidated barns, but even our little log barn has been so hard to keep. But to replace it would cost even more, especially in our county where you need a permit to breathe, and we use ours, really use ours. Most barns that go aren't needed. But it is sad all the same or even more for their lack of being needed.

Leah said...

I love barns... great pictures!

GramMary said...

These barns all have such wonderful stories...how and why they were built and about all the critters who inhabited them over the years. I love our old barn even though we don't own the farm any longer. (One cupola and plain rods) The barn is sagging a bit, but aren't we all?

Red said...

Sadly there's no use for these structures any more. Technology has made them obsolete. This one's in much better shape than the one on my family's farm. I did a post on it one time.

Karen said...

Beautiful barn. There is one across the road of similar size and shape that has been incorporated into part of a horse boarding set up.
We don't get a lot of thunder and lightening here, and I've never noticed lightening rods, but I should have a better look:)

Nancy said...

I love old barns and imagine the stories behind their construction: did the neighbors come to help in a traditional "barn raising" or did the owner and his family build it. My imagination takes off just looking at your photos.

Country Gal said...

I love the old barns as well . It's a shame they are becoming a dieing breed ! Back in my hobby farm days there wasn't any barns with lightning rods on them not even the steel made barn we had . My father worked off of the farm as well for a steel company and we had our barn made by this company , now that I think about thank goodness our barn was never struck by lightning . Nice photos ! Have a good day !

Terry and Linda said...

Beautiful! I haven't seen lightening rods in a long-time either!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I do know of the handy dandy lightnin' rods first hand. The barn is just picture perfect.

I kinda think we needed those lightin' rods on our home the wee mornin' the lightnin' blew the top outta an electric pole outside our bedroom. Dang if it didn't take our fax machine, waterbed heater, blew a fence charger in a ten foot radius, blew apart the pump in my outdoor fountain and every stinkin' component above ground on our well. Yep...needed a lightnin' rod or twelve! Heeehehehe!

God bless ya and thanks for sharin' that magnificent barn.

Have a great day! :o)

MTWaggin said...

I did not know that about the lightening rods - well I do know that they exist and why but I've never seen them with the glass ball! Cool - I've had my education for the day! haha

Primitive Stars said...

Hello, found your great blog, enjoyed very much....It,'s so beautiful to still see them up on the old barns...I love old lightning rods, have a nice collection of them in my home...they are a wonderful collect able I think....Blessings Francine.

LindaG said...

Great barn. Wonderful photo. Have a great week!

RURAL said...

It's sad that they are falling into disrepair and we are loosing them....

I love old barns.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this post very much. We don't have many barns around here.

Jacqi Stevens said...

What a classic scene that first picture is. I had no idea lightning rods were becoming so rare. I've seen some driving through the countryside in Ohio and Indiana, but I've never been to Minnesota to know...

Anonymous said...

Love the colours in that first shot! Lightning rods seem like a good idea.

Jeannelle said...

Great old barn! You should put this on Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily blog.

Barn Charm

Strawberry Lane said...

Love those old barns. Enjoyed the photos and the info. While living in Wisconsin I loved driving in the country to photograph the old "remaining" barns. It's a touch of history.

Rita said...

I thought all barns had lightning rods. Guess I should look closer. Just love those big old red barns. Would love to see more old barn pics! :)