The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 30The
Outbuildings
of Ontario's
Farms
— they may be down, but
they're not out
By Larry Drew
The practicality of Ontario's farm families is
demonstrated in the fascinating history of farm
buildings. But this legacy is not limited to the story
of the farmhouse (see November 2001 issue) nor the
monumental barn (see November 2000 issue). The coops
and cribs, sheds and shelters were no quiet observer in the
evolution of rural life.
These outbuildings, so easily and often altered, moved
or transformed, have lots to say about the evolution of farm
life in Ontario. But just as easily, these small buildings can
and have been demolished, making many of them perhaps
the rarest of our rural monuments to survive in recent
decades. Yet, it is these outbuildings that actually defined
the progressive farm at the turn of the last century.
For most of the 1800s any livestock that a farmer had
was rarely housed. The first priority was living quarters for
the farm family — and building that first shanty. Later, as
more land was cleared and a larger log or frame house was
built, the shanty often became the first "barn" — a small
single level building for storing and threshing grain with
perhaps a stall for oxen, or later, horses. Livestock were
often left to forage for themselves, and any feed provided
to them prior to 1850 would likely have been whole grain..
It wasn't until the later half of the century that Ontario's
predominantly wheat -based agriculture was replaced with
mixed farming. For one, it took a decade or two for most
settlers to clear enough land and accumulate enough
livestock to become "mixed" farming operations. Besides,
it wasn't until the about the 1870s that farmers either
produced enough grain, or were able to acquire the
equipment to grind it themselves, that allowed for more
efficient feeding of livestock.
By 1900, cattle and horses were moved to larger two-
storey barns; pigs took over the shanties, and poultry was
provided housing tailored to them. Granaries and corncribs
sprang up to provide the ever-growing need for farm -stored
feed. And by 1900, the image of the progressive farm
began to take shape.
The functional farm landscape of 1900 would have
included many outbuildings, laid out at well -considered
distances. This was the farm of my grandfather's day - 1
26 THE RURAL VOICE
Top: An early
keystone corncrib
is now being used
by its owner to
store firewood.
Plans for these
cribs were
available in early
farm magazines,
and designed to be
slimmer at the
base to improve air
circulation and
drying. Both cribs
and granaries
were built on posts
or raised foundations — and had removable steps — to
discourage rodents. Middle: Drive -shed is a term unique
to Ontario - describing the building's main use, for
driving in and parking a horse and buggy. They could
also store a wagon and most of the farm implements
needed in their day. Directly above: The overhanging
roof to shade the small doorway is still evident on this
early log milk -house. Fewer and fewer good examples
survive today.