Parker 13-Sided Barn, Jefferson New York
The Parker Barn is located at the eastern fringe of the hamlet of Jefferson approximately one half mile east of the Jefferson square at the south side of Route 10. A conventional rectangular barn of the late nineteenth century is located immediately west of the 13-sided barn (connected by a hyphen), and a modern greenhouse has been attached to the south. A Queen Anne style farmhouse built c. 1890-1900 is located a short distance west of the subject barn and a small farm pond is located to the rear of the barn.
The barn is 13-sided in plan, two stories in height and approximately 60 feet in diameter. It is built above a level grade with a relatively light wood framework and a clapboard exterior. Square shaped windows occur at each of the two stories, generally one upper and one lower window in each of the 13 sides. The roof is double hipped and surmounted by a 13-sided cupola. Early lightning rods with glass balls are placed above the cupola and at various points around the base of the cupola at the break point of the roof.
The interior of the barn has been modified with the addition of later partitions and the flooring over of the original central mow; however, the original structure has been left intact and the original configuration is readily apparent. In its original state, the barn included a central hay mow surrounded at the ground floor by a concentric stanchion arrangement and at the upper level by a circular wagon drive approached by a no longer extant ramp and bridge at the east. Walls are constructed of rectangular frames with 2" x 4" studs and trippled 2"x8" posts. Similar posts form a ring around the original now, extending upward to the break point of the roof. Floor beams beneath the wagon drive radiate outward to each exterior corner and are formed from half-rounded logs. Joists run concentrically between these beams. The original floor of the wagon drive is laid in 13 sections each with planking laid perpendicularly to the exterior wall. Breast girders remain in place at the second level at the edge of the original mow. A complex arrangement of short 2"x4" members forms a network of trusses which bridge the space above the mow to support the cupola.
A three story clapboard-sided late nineteenth century rectangular barn is located immediately west of the 13-sided structure. It is connected by a later but undated two-and-one-half story hyphen to the 13-sided barn.
The Parker barn (1896) is significant as one of only two known examples in New York State of a transitional central plan barn type which features a broad central hay mow with a concentric manger and circular wagon drive. In configuration, this barn is very similar to the McArthur-Martin hexadecagon barn in Kortright (1883) only 15 miles to the south. Because of its proximity to the Kortright barn and because of its similar design, it would appear likely that McArthur's barn was influential in the design of the Parker barn. However, there are important differences, aside from its smaller dimensions, which distinguish this barn from its earlier neighbor. These include the presence of one rather than two wagon drives and the fairly extensive use of light wood framing members, nailed together in most situations requiring a greater cross section, such as in the corner posts around the exterior walls. The difference in framing appears to illustrate a growing acceptance of balloon framing techniques for barn raising during the 1880's and 1890's.
With the exception of the removal of this barn's original upper level entrance ramp and bridge in 1950, alterations to the barn have been additive in nature and have resulted in very little loss of original fabric. The barn is currently used for storage on an operating veal farm and is in good condition and well maintained.
Looking South from Route 10 (1984)
